Appropriation (Special Expenditure) Act (No. 2) 1964-65

Overview

The Appropriation (Special Expenditure) Act (No. 2) 1964-65 was enacted to address the need for additional funding outside of the ordinary annual services of the Government for the financial year ending on the thirtieth day of June, 1965. This Act was passed by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective of the Act was to authorise the appropriation of funds for specific services, including blood transfusion services, minor research and other services, and bushfire relief efforts in various states such as New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The Act allows the Treasurer to issue and apply the specified sum of Fifty-nine thousand four hundred and twenty-two pounds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for these services as detailed in the Schedule to the Act.

Scope and Application

The Appropriation (Special Expenditure) Act (No. 2) 1964-65 provides the legal basis for the appropriation of a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for particular services that are outside the ordinary annual services of the Australian Government. This Act applies to the services listed in the accompanying Schedule, which includes blood transfusion services under the Department of Health, minor research and other services under the Department of Primary Industry, and bushfire relief services in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia administered by the Prime Minister’s Department. The financial allocation is limited to the year ending on the thirtieth day of June 1965 and is intended to cover services that commenced on the first day of July 1964. The Act is operative immediately upon receiving Royal Assent, and it applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, extending its jurisdictional reach across the nation. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the Act itself, though the appropriation and specific services are detailed in the accompanying Schedule. The Act does not explicitly mention the use of subordinate instruments to extend or restrict its application, suggesting that the provisions within the Act are self-contained and do not rely on additional regulations or orders for their implementation.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Appropriation (Special Expenditure) Act (No. 2) 1964-65 (referred to as the Act) specify the allocation and issuance of funds for particular services outside the ordinary annual services of the government for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1965. Section 3 of the Act permits the Treasurer to issue and apply a sum of £59,422 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specified services detailed in the attached schedule. This appropriation is to be used for services not included in the regular annual government operations. Section 4 confirms that the authorised sum is deemed to have been appropriated from July 1, 1964, for the services outlined in the schedule. The Act imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties it governs. Primarily, it mandates that the specified sum of £59,422 be issued and applied strictly for the services detailed in the schedule, which include blood transfusion services, minor research and other services, and bushfire relief efforts in New South Wales, Victoria, and South Australia. The Act ensures that these funds are to be used for these particular purposes and not diverted to other uses. Furthermore, the Act requires that the appropriation be deemed effective from July 1, 1964, aligning with the financial year that commenced on that date. Under the Act, any misuse of the appropriated funds outside the specified services would result in legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties, breaches of appropriation acts generally lead to serious legal and financial repercussions. Typically, such breaches could lead to civil penalties, including the requirement to repay misappropriated funds, and in more severe cases, criminal charges may be pursued. The penalties for such breaches could include fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity and intent behind the misuse. The exact penalties would be governed by other relevant laws and regulations that apply to the misuse of public funds.