Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976

Overview

The Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976 was enacted by the Queen's assent, through the Australian Parliament, to address a specific financial need of the state of Queensland by providing it with a substantial grant to assist in its budgetary requirements. This Act was introduced to provide a financial boost to Queensland during a period where the state may have been experiencing economic difficulties, aiming to ensure that the state could continue to deliver essential services and undertake necessary projects. The policy objective of this Act was to offer a timely financial support to Queensland, recognising its particular circumstances and the need for special assistance to maintain economic stability and growth. The Act authorises the payment of a financial assistance sum of $27,000,000 for the fiscal year beginning 1 July 1976, with provisions to reduce this amount if Queensland had received payments under another act, the States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1975. Furthermore, it allows for additional payments up to $13,500,000 for the year 1977-78, to be made at the Treasurer's discretion. These payments are to be sourced from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, ensuring that the financial assistance is appropriately allocated and managed within the federal budget framework.

Scope and Application

The Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976 provides financial assistance to the state of Queensland for a specific period, extending its support beyond the initial year of enactment. The Act applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and its Treasury, as well as the State of Queensland as the beneficiary of the financial assistance. The scope of the Act is limited to the provision of financial aid and does not extend to other areas of conduct or transactions. Geographically, the Act's reach is confined to the national jurisdiction of Australia, with the Commonwealth government responsible for the disbursement of funds as stipulated within its provisions. There are no exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds specified within the text of the Act itself, and the application of the Act is not extended or restricted through subordinate instruments. The Act focuses solely on the payment of financial assistance to Queensland, with any further details regarding the allocation and use of these funds being subject to the Treasurer's approval.

Key Provisions

The Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976, section 3 outlines the primary financial assistance to be provided to Queensland. Specifically, it mandates that a sum of $27,000,000 be paid to Queensland during the fiscal year starting 1 July 1976, intended as financial assistance. This amount is subject to reduction by any payments made to Queensland under section 4 of the States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1975, as stated in section 3(2). Furthermore, section 3(3) allows the Treasurer to determine the specific amounts and timing of these payments. Moving forward to section 4, the Act provides the Treasurer with the discretion to make additional payments to Queensland during the six-month period starting 1 July 1977, with the aggregate amount not exceeding $13,500,000 for financial assistance purposes. Under the Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976, the obligations are primarily vested in the Treasurer. As per section 3, the Treasurer must ensure the payment of the stipulated financial assistance to Queensland, subject to any reductions as specified. The Treasurer is also tasked with making payments in accordance with section 4, which allows for additional payments to Queensland during a specified period in 1977-78. Section 5 of the Act mandates that these payments are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly. The Queensland Grant (Special Assistance) Act 1976 does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance within the provided sections. However, the nature of the Act suggests that failure to adhere to the prescribed financial assistance and payment obligations could lead to legal or administrative repercussions. The Act's focus on appropriation and authorised payments implies that any breaches might be subject to the broader legal frameworks governing public finance and administrative law in Australia.