Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16

Administered by Department of Finance

Legislation au F2012L01524 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16

This determination was originally made under subsection 20(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and from 1 July 2014 is taken to have been made under subsection 78(1) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 (see Schedule 2, Part 2, item 36 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2014). 

Compilation No. 1

Compilation date:    16 September 2015

Includes amendments up to: F2015L01322

Registered:    16 September 2015

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 16 September 2015 (the compilation date).

This compilation was prepared on 15 September 2015.

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on ComLaw (www.comlaw.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on ComLaw for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on ComLaw for the compiled law.

Self-repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name of Determination

2 Commencement

3 Definitions

4 Establishment

5 Amounts to be credited

6 Purposes for which amounts may be debited

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

 

 

 

1  Name of Determination

  This Determination is the Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16.

2  Commencement

  This Determination commences at the time at which subsection 22(4) of the FMA Act is complied with.

Note: This Determination takes effect in accordance with section 22 of the FMA Act. The Parliament must consider the Determination before it can take effect, and either House may pass a resolution disallowing the Determination. If neither House passes such a resolution, the Determination takes effect on the day immediately after the last day upon which such a resolution could have been passed.

3  Definitions

  In this Determination:

Act means the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

Special Account has the meaning given by section 5 of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

4  Establishment

  For paragraph 20(1)(a) of the Act, a Special Account is established with the name Climate Change Special Account.

5  Amounts to be credited

  For paragraph 20(1)(b) of the Act, any amount

 (a) received from the Energy Special Account;

 (b) received from a government; or

 (c) received as a gift or bequest from any person;

  for the purposes of the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency, may be credited to the Climate Change Special Account.

Note 1: The Appropriation Acts provide that if any of the purposes of a Special Account are covered by an item in those Acts (whether or not the item expressly refers to the Special Account), then amounts may be debited against the appropriation for that item and credited to the Special Account.

Note 2: Subsection 39(5) of the FMA Act provides that upon realisation of an investment of an amount debited from a Special Account, the proceeds of the investment must be credited to that Special Account.

Note 3: Section 30 of the FMA Act has the effect that if an amount expended from a Special Account is repaid to the Commonwealth, that amount must be re-credited to that Special Account.

Note 4: Section 30A of the FMA Act has the effect of increasing the appropriation under section 20 of the FMA Act for the purposes of a Special Account (and thereby increasing this Special Account’s balance). The increase is of an amount equivalent to any GST amount that is recoverable in relation to a payment, and occurs immediately before the payment is made. GST is defined in section 195-1 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999.

6  Purposes for which amounts may be debited

 (1) For paragraph 20(1)(c) of the Act, amounts may be debited from the Climate Change Special Account:

 (a) to disburse or repay amounts for the purposes of the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency;

 (b) to disburse or repay amounts in relation to incidental activities;

 (c) to repay amounts where an Act or other law requires or permits the repayment of an amount received;

 (d) to reduce the balance of the Climate Change Special Account (and, therefore, the available appropriation for the Special Account) without making a real or notional payment; and

 (e) to credit amounts to the Energy Special Account 2015.

 (2) To avoid doubt, incidental activities include:

 (a) the administration of the Special Account; and

 (b) dealing with direct and indirect costs.

Note 1: Subsection 20(4) of the FMA Act appropriates the Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF) for expenditure for the purposes of the Special Account up to the balance for the time being of the Special Account.  Subsection 20(5) of the FMA Act provides that whenever an amount is debited against the appropriation, the amount is taken to be also debited from the Special Account.

Note 2: In addition to the purposes specified in this Determination, other provisions of the FMA Act provide authority for amounts to be debited from this Special Account.

 Subsection 39(1) of the FMA Act provides the Finance Minister with the power to invest public money in any authorised investment. Where such an investment is made of an amount standing to the credit of a Special Account, section 39 of the FMA Act has the effect that the Special Account must be debited.

 Subsection 39(4) of the FMA Act provides that if an amount has been invested by debiting a Special Account, then the expenses of the investment may be debited from the Account.

 Subsection 39(9) of the FMA Act appropriates the CRF for this investment activity.

 Not all chief executives have been delegated powers to invest under section 39 of the FMA Act.

Note 3: An amount may be debited from a Special Account where:

(a) it has been incorrectly credited by virtue of a clerical mistake; or

(b) it has been credited through the exercise of a discretion by an official and the exercise of that discretion was actuated by a fundamental mistake of fact or law.

 Legal advice should be obtained before an amount is debited on the basis of paragraph (b).

Note 4: Section 6 of the FMA Act applies to a notional payment by an Agency (or part of an Agency) as if it were a real payment by the Commonwealth. Notional receipts and notional payments are transactions between different parts of the Commonwealth.  Real receipts and real payments are transactions between the Commonwealth and other entities.

Note 5: The purpose of subclause (1)(d) is to allow for the extinguishing of all or part of the appropriation under section 20 of the FMA Act for this Special Account. When this Special Account is debited for this purpose, there is no payment or credit available to another party, account or appropriation.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Endnotes about misdescribed amendments and other matters are included in a compilation only as necessary.

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

A = Act

o = order(s)

ad = added or inserted

Ord = Ordinance

am = amended

orig = original

amdt = amendment

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

c = clause(s)

    /subsubparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

pres = present

Ch = Chapter(s)

prev = previous

def = definition(s)

(prev…) = previously

Dict = Dictionary

Pt = Part(s)

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

Div = Division(s)

Reg = Regulation/Regulations

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

reloc = relocated

    effect

renum = renumbered

F = Federal Register of Legislative Instruments

rep = repealed

gaz = gazette

rs = repealed and substituted

LI = Legislative Instrument

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

    effect

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SR = Statutory Rules

    cannot be given effect

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

mod = modified/modification

SubPt = Subpart(s)

No. = Number(s)

underlining = whole or part not

 

    commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Name

FRLI registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16

9 July 2012 (F2012L01524)

23 Aug 2012 (s 2)

 

PGPA Act (Energy Special Account 2015—Establishment) Determination 2015/07

26 Aug 2015 (F2015L01322)

s 9(2): 16 Sept 2015 (s 2)

 

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 6.....................

am F2015L01322

 

 

 

Overview

The Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16 was enacted to establish a Climate Change Special Account, thereby providing a structured mechanism for managing funds specifically allocated for climate change initiatives. This determination was originally made under subsection 20(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997, and from 1 July 2014, it is taken to have been made under subsection 78(1) of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. The policy objective of this legislation is to ensure effective and accountable financial management of funds dedicated to climate change projects, ensuring they are used in accordance with the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency and other related purposes. The enacting body for this determination is the Australian Parliament, which must consider and approve the determination before it can take effect.

Scope and Application

The Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and establishes a special account named the Climate Change Special Account. This Determination, which commenced on 23 August 2012, governs the crediting and debiting of funds within this special account, specifically for the purposes of the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency. The account can receive funds from the Energy Special Account, any government, or as gifts or bequests from any person. The purposes for which amounts may be debited from the Climate Change Special Account include disbursing or repaying amounts for the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency, covering incidental activities, repaying amounts as required or permitted by law, reducing the account's balance without making a payment, and crediting amounts to the Energy Special Account 2015. The Determination also includes provisions for the administration of the account and notes the authority for debiting funds from this special account as provided by other sections of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997. The Determination was originally made under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 but is now taken to have been made under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013. This legislative instrument has been amended and the latest amendment was registered on 16 September 2015.

Key Provisions

The Financial Management and Accountability (Establishment of the Climate Change Special Account) Determination 2012/16 establishes the Climate Change Special Account, outlining its purpose and permissible transactions. Section 4 establishes the Climate Change Special Account under the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 (FMA Act). Section 5 specifies that the account can receive funds from various sources, including the Energy Special Account, government entities, and gifts or bequests, specifically for the National Partnership Agreement on Energy Efficiency. Section 6 details the permissible uses of funds in the account, including disbursing or repaying amounts for energy efficiency initiatives, covering incidental administrative costs, repaying amounts required or permitted by law, reducing the account balance without making a payment, and crediting funds to the Energy Special Account. The Act imposes obligations on entities managing the Climate Change Special Account, including ensuring that funds are used strictly for the purposes outlined in the Determination. The account must maintain clear records of all transactions, including credits and debits, and comply with any additional requirements specified in the FMA Act. The account also needs to ensure that funds are appropriately invested and that any investment-related expenses are properly accounted for. Breaches of the provisions outlined in the Determination may result in legal consequences. For example, misusing funds or failing to comply with the specified purposes could lead to financial penalties or other legal actions. The FMA Act may also provide for additional penalties for specific breaches, including those related to the improper handling of public money or failure to maintain proper records. The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but they could include fines, restitution, or other corrective measures as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Financial Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Enforcement Powers
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.