Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1972

Overview

The Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1972 was enacted to amend the Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1970, addressing a gap in the scope of the original legislation by expanding the definition of what constitutes a meal under the subsidy scheme. This Act was enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The policy objective is to enhance the nutritional quality of meals provided by eligible organizations by including fresh fruit or fruit juice in the meals, thereby improving the overall health outcomes for the recipients of these services.

Scope and Application

The Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1972 amends the Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1970 and applies to eligible organizations providing meal services in Australia. The Act empowers the Director-General to approve arrangements for these organizations to include fresh fruit or fruit juice in meals, setting out the kinds and quantities of such items and methods of delivery. The Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and its amendments extend to any approved meal services conducted by eligible organizations. The Act also introduces financial authorisations for the Commonwealth to pay subsidies to these organizations, with different rates for meals including fresh fruit or fruit juice and those that do not. This Act commences on the day it receives Royal Assent and the amendments concerning payment authorisations take effect from January 1, 1973. The Act does not specify exclusions or exemptions but it does allow for the extension and restriction of its application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1972 amends the Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1970, introducing significant changes to how subsidies are calculated and applied. Section 4 of the Act updates the Director-General's approvals, adding the requirement for the Director-General to approve arrangements for including fresh fruit or fruit juice in meals provided by eligible organizations. This approval must specify the type and quantity of fruit or fruit juice and the method of delivery to the consumer. Additionally, the Act clarifies that the approval for such arrangements cannot be backdated before the Act's commencement. Under the new provisions, Section 5 of the Act details the authorization of payments. The Director-General is authorized to pay subsidies to approved organizations, with a rate of twenty cents for each meal that includes fresh fruit or fruit juice, and fifteen cents for each other meal, provided by the organization in the previous year. This change in subsidy calculation is effective from 1 January 1973, aligning with the new fiscal year. The Act imposes specific obligations on the Director-General to ensure that arrangements for including fresh fruit or fruit juice in meals are approved and documented accurately. Eligible organizations must comply with these approved arrangements to be eligible for the subsidy. Failure to adhere to the approved specifications or to obtain necessary approvals could result in disqualification from receiving the subsidy. Any breach of the provisions outlined in the Delivered Meals Subsidy Act 1972 could lead to civil or criminal consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly detail penalties, breaches of similar legislative acts generally attract fines or other sanctions as deemed appropriate by the court. The precise nature and extent of penalties would be determined in the context of each case, with potential maximum penalties varying based on the severity and intent of the breach.