EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Housing Assistance (Form of Agreement) Determination 2003
The Housing Assistance Act 1996 (the Act) authorises the Commonwealth to formulate and enter into Commonwealth State Housing Agreements with the States and Territories with the intention and purpose of providing housing assistance so that people may achieve housing that is affordable, secure and appropriate to their needs.
Subsection 5(1) of the Act enables the Minister to determine, by disallowable instrument, a form of agreement dealing with the provision of housing assistance and lists matters which must be dealt with in the form of agreement. Once the instrument is in force, section 6 of the Act enables the Commonwealth to enter into agreements with the States and Territories substantially in accordance with the form of agreement.
Where such an agreement is in force between the Commonwealth and a State or Territory, section 7 of the Act enables the Minister to authorise payments to the State or Territory, by way of financial assistance, in accordance with that agreement.
The Minister for Family and Community Services, acting under subsection 5(1) of the Act, determined the form of agreement. The Minister's determination revoked the Housing Assistance (Form of Agreement) Determination 1999 made on 29 June 1999.
The Minister's determination commenced on gazettal.