EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Federal Financial Relations Act 2009

Federal Financial Relations (National Specific Purpose Payments) Determination 2013-14 No. 1

The Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations (the IGA) provides a robust foundation for collaboration on policy development and service delivery, and facilitates the implementation of economic and social reforms in areas of national importance.

In agreeing the framework for federal financial relations, the Commonwealth committed to the provision of financial support for the States’ service delivery efforts through:

•                 general purpose financial assistance, including the ongoing provision of GST payments, to be used by the States for any purpose;

•                 National Specific Purpose Payments (National SPPs) to be spent in key service delivery sectors;

•                 National Health Reform funding;

•                 Students First funding; and

•                 National Partnership payments to support the delivery of specified outputs or projects, to facilitate reforms, or to reward those jurisdictions that deliver on nationally significant reforms.

The federal financial framework commenced on 1 January 2009.  The payment provisions of the IGA are implemented through the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 (the Act). 

National SPPs

Under the IGA, the Commonwealth provides National SPPs to the States and Territories as a financial contribution to support State and Territory service delivery in the areas of schools, skills and workforce development, disability and housing. 

The Federal Financial Relations (National Specific Purpose Payments) Determination 2013-14 No. 1 (the Determination) specifies the amounts for the schools, skills and workforce development, and housing National SPPs for 2013-14. 

Part 3 of the Act provides for the Minister, by legislative instrument, to determine the total amounts payable in respect of each National SPP, the manner in which these total amounts are indexed, and the manner in which these amounts are divided between the States and Territories. The Determination has been made in accordance with these provisions. 

The Act also requires the Minister have regard to the IGA when making a determination for National SPPs.  The indexation methodology used to calculate each National SPP in the Determination is in accordance with the relevant growth factor for each National SPP as outlined in ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the IGA.

Advance payments in respect of the National SPPs are provided throughout the financial year based on estimates of each jurisdiction’s anticipated entitlement.  Any adjustment between the advances paid to a jurisdiction and the jurisdiction’s determined entitlement is made in the first practicable payment in the subsequent financial year.  

Part 3 of the Act and ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the IGA provide that the States and Territories are required to spend each National SPP in the service sector relevant to the payment.  However, the States and Territories have full budget flexibility to allocate funds within that sector as they see fit to achieve any mutually agreed objectives for that sector.

The determined amount for the Schools National SPP relates to government schools over the period 1 July 2013 to 31 December 2013.  Financial assistance for non-government schools over this period was provided under the Schools Assistance Act 2008. From 1 January 2014, funding for both government and non-government schools has been provided under the Australian Education Act 2013.

The Minister’s determination in respect of National SPPs is a legislative instrument and will be registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Consultation

The IGA was subject to extensive consultation with the States and was signed by all jurisdictions in December 2008.  The IGA is publicly available on the website for the Council for Federal Financial Relations.  Consultation with the States and Territories on National SPPs also occurs regularly, principally through meetings between Heads of Treasuries.

Commencement

The Determination commenced on the day it was made.

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

In accordance with the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations and the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009, the Commonwealth provides National Specific Purpose Payments to the States and Territories as a financial contribution to support State and Territory service delivery in the areas of schools, skills and workforce development, disability and housing. 

This Legislative Instrument determines the total amounts payable in respect of the schools, skills and workforce development, and housing National SPPs for 2013‑14, the manner in which these total amounts are indexed, and the manner in which these amounts are divided between the States and Territories.

Human rights implications

This Legislative Instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.

Conclusion

This Legislative Instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.