EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Subject: Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974 -
Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations (Amendment) 1982 No. 241
The purpose of the Statutory Rules is to increase the rate of payment of grants made to eligible organisations providing assistance to homeless persons. Grants are made under section 9 of the Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974 to organisations which provide food and accommodation to homeless persons. Grants for the provision of meals to non-residents are made under section 10 of the Act. The rate of the grants is fixed by the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations. The new rates are -
• in respect of food and accommodation provided for homeless persons at a homeless persons assistance centre - $1.35 per person per day (increased from $1.20);
• in respect of meals provided for non-resident homeless persons at a homeless persons assistance centre - 45 cents per meal per day (increased from 40 cents).
The new rates will be payable in respect of assistance given on any day on or after 1 October 1982.
Regulation 1 of the Statutory Rules provides for Regulations 2 and 3, which will raise the rates at which the amount of grants are calculated, to come into operation on 1 October 1982.
Regulation 2 of the Statutory Rules amends Regulation 4 of the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations by increasing the rate of grant for the provision of food and accommodation to $1.35 per person per day in respect of which the grant is payable.
Regulation 3 of the Statutory Rules amends Regulation 5 of the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations by increasing the rate of grant for the provision of meals to 45 cents per meal per day in respect of which the grant is payable.
Overview
The Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations (Amendment) 1982 No. 241 amends the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations to increase the rate of payment of grants made to eligible organisations under the Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974. This Act was enacted to address the problem of homelessness and to provide assistance to homeless persons through the provision of food and accommodation. The Act allows for grants to be given to organisations that provide such assistance, with the rate of these grants being stipulated in the Regulations. The objective of the amendment is to ensure that the financial support provided to these organisations keeps pace with the cost of living and the needs of homeless individuals. The increase in grant rates aims to support the ongoing efforts of these organisations in providing essential services to the homeless population. These changes were enacted by the Parliament of Australia and came into effect on 1 October 1982.
Scope and Application
The Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974, as amended by the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations (Amendment) 1982 No. 241, applies to organisations providing assistance to homeless persons within Australia. These organisations are eligible for grants under sections 9 and 10 of the Act, which support the provision of food and accommodation to homeless individuals, as well as meals to non-resident homeless persons. The increased grant rates, effective from 1 October 1982, reflect an adjustment to better support these organisations, with the rate for food and accommodation rising to $1.35 per person per day and the rate for meals for non-residents increasing to 45 cents per meal per day. These changes are enacted through Statutory Rules that amend the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations, ensuring the new rates are applicable to all assistance provided on or after the specified date. The Act and its amendments aim to support eligible organisations nationwide, without specific exclusions or exemptions noted in the provided text, and the application is extended through subordinate instruments to ensure compliance with the new rates.
Key Provisions
The Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations (Amendment) 1982 No. 241 introduces new rates for grants paid to eligible organisations under the Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974. Section 9 of the Act allows for grants to be made to organisations that provide food and accommodation to homeless persons, while Section 10 pertains to grants for meals provided to non-resident homeless persons. The new rates, effective from 1 October 1982, set the grant for food and accommodation at $1.35 per person per day, an increase from the previous rate of $1.20. Similarly, the grant for meals provided to non-resident homeless persons is increased to 45 cents per meal per day, up from 40 cents. These new rates are detailed in Regulation 2 and Regulation 3 of the Statutory Rules, which amend Regulations 4 and 5 of the Homeless Persons Assistance Regulations, respectively.
Under the amended regulations, organisations providing assistance to homeless persons must adhere to the new grant rates specified in the Statutory Rules. This includes maintaining accurate records of the number of homeless persons they provide food and accommodation to, as well as the number of meals provided to non-residents. The grants are intended to support the provision of essential services to those in need, and organisations must ensure that the increased funding is used appropriately to enhance the quality and quantity of assistance provided. Compliance with the new rates is mandatory for all eligible organisations seeking to receive grants under the Act.
Failure to comply with the new grant rates specified in the Statutory Rules may result in legal consequences. While the Explanatory Statement does not detail specific penalties or offences for non-compliance, it is reasonable to infer that breaches of statutory regulations could lead to civil or criminal liability. The exact nature of these consequences would depend on the specific provisions of the Homeless Persons Assistance Act 1974 and any relevant case law or further legislative amendments. However, it is clear that organisations must diligently adhere to the new rates to avoid any potential repercussions.