Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

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ROADS ACTS AMENDMENT ACT 1976

No. 36 of 1976

An Act relating to Financial Assistance to the States in relation to Roads.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

PART I—PRELIMINARY

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

PART II—AMENDMENTS OF THE NATIONAL ROADS ACT 1974

Citation.

3. (1) The National Roads Act 1974 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

(2) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the National Roads Act 1974-1976.

Grant of financial assistance to States.

4. Section 7 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a). by adding at the end of sub-section (2) the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 4 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount specified opposite to the name of that State in Schedule 4”;

(b). by adding at the end of sub-section (3) the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 5 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount specified opposite to the name of that State in Schedule 5”; and

(c). by adding at the end of sub-section (4) the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 6 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount specified opposite to the name of that State in Schedule 6”.

Variation of amounts specified in Schedules.

5. (1) Section 11 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (1) and substituting the following sub-section: —

“(1) Where a State satisfies the Minister that—

(a) the amount specified in Schedule 1, 2 or 3; or

(b) the sum of the amounts specified in Schedules 1 and 4, Schedules 2 and 5 or Schedules 3 and 6,

in relation to the State in respect of a year is greater than the amount that the State has been, or will be, able to expend, in accordance with this Act, in that year for the purpose specified in sub-section 7(2), (3) or (4), whichever is relevant, the Minister may direct that the amount referred to in paragraph (a) or either or both of the amounts constituting the sum referred to in paragraph (b) shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount or amounts, as the case may be, as is specified by the Minister.

(2) A direction given by the Minister under section 11 of the Principal Act before the commencement of this Act has effect, after the commencement of this Act, as if it had been given by the Minister under section 11 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

6. After section 11 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Variation of amounts specified in Schedules by reason of relative priorities.

“11a. (1) Where a State satisfies the Minister that, by reason of particular works in relation to roads having a lesser priority than other particular works in relation to roads—

(a) an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act in relation to the State in respect of a year, being an amount available under this Act by way of financial assistance to the State in relation to expenditure by the State in respect of those first-mentioned works, should be reduced by an amount specified by the State (in this section referred to as ‘the amount of the variation’); and

(b) an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act or a Schedule to the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976 in relation to the State in respect of that year, being—

(i) an amount available under this Act by way of financial assistance to the State in relation to expenditure by the State in respect of those second-mentioned works; or

(ii). an amount required by the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976 to be expended on works of a kind in which the second-mentioned works are included,

should be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the variation,

the Minister may direct that the amounts so specified shall be deemed to be respectively reduced and increased by the amount of the variation.

“(2) A direction shall not be given under sub-section (1) in relation to a State if it could result in the State becoming liable to repay an amount to Australia under this Act.

“(3) A direction having effect in relation to an amount specified in a Schedule to the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976 shall not be given under sub-section (1) unless the Treasurer has concurred in the direction.

“(4) Where a direction under sub-section (1) has effect in relation to an amount specified in a Schedule to the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976, that direction shall further direct that the amount specified in Schedule 1 to that Act in relation to the State to which the direction relates in respect of the year to which the direction relates shall be deemed to be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the variation.

“(5) Where a direction given under sub-section (1) relates only to amounts specified in Schedules to this Act, this Act has effect as if the amounts referred to in the direction had been respectively reduced and increased in accordance with the direction.

“(6) Where a direction given under sub-section (1) relates both to an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act and amounts specified in Schedules to the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976, this Act and that Act have effect as if the amounts referred to in the direction had been respectively reduced and increased in accordance with the direction.

“(7) A reference in sub-section (1) to a Schedule to the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976 shall be read as not including a reference to Schedule 1 or 8 to that Act.”.

Schedules 1, 2 and 3.

7. Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Principal Act are amended by omitting the column headed “Total” (wherever occurring).

Schedules.

8. The Principal Act is amended by adding after Schedule 3 the following Schedules:—

SCHEDULE 4 Section 7(2)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS IN RESPECT OF THE CONSTRUCTION OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
Queensland.....................................................	2,500,000
South Australia..................................................	2,290,000
Western Australia................................................	1,520,000
Tasmania......................................................	1,040,000
Total....................................................	7,350,000

_______

SCHEDULE 5 Section 7(3)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS IN RESPECT OF THE MAINTENANCE OF NATIONAL HIGHWAYS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales..................................................	4,000,000
Queensland......................................................	2,000,000
South Australia....................................................	810,000
Western Australia..................................................	380,000
Tasmania........................................................	90,000
Total......................................................	7,280,000

______

SCHEDULE 6 Section 7(4)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS IN RESPECT OF THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF EXPORT ROADS AND MAJOR COMMERCIAL ROADS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
Western Australia.............................................	200,000
Tasmania...................................................	70,000
Total.................................................	270,000

PART III—AMENDMENTS OF THE ROADS GRANTS ACT 1974

Citation.

9. (1) The Roads Grants Act 1974 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

(2) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Roads Grants Act 1974-1976.

Interpretation.

10. Section 3 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from sub-section (1) the definition of “approved program” and substituting the following definitions:—

“‘allocation for local roads’ means—

(a) the expenditure of moneys by a State on road works; or

(b) payment of moneys by a State to a government authority in the State for expenditure by the authority on road works,

being road works of one of the following kinds:—

(d) the construction of urban local roads for which the State or the authority is responsible;

‘approved allocation’ means an allocation for local roads that is included as a proposed allocation in an approved program;

‘approved program’ means—

(a) a program of projects approved by the Minister under section 4; or

(b) a program of proposed allocations for local roads approved by the Minister under section 4a;”;

(b) by inserting in sub-section (1), after the definition of “developmental road”, the following definition:—

“‘government authority’ means a municipal, shire or other local authority, and includes an authority of a State, being an incorporated body, that is responsible for the construction and maintenance of rural local roads in an area of the State; and

(c) by omitting from sub-section (2) the words “municipal, shire or other local authority” (wherever occurring) and substituting the words “government authority”.

Approved programs.

11. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (5) the words “The Minister of State for Northern Development, with the concurrence of the Minister and” and substituting the words “The Minister,”.

12. After section 4 of the Principal Act, the following section is inserted:—

Programs of allocations.

“4a. (1) The Minister may notify a State the date before which a program of proposed allocations for local roads in respect of a period to which this section applies, being proposed allocations in relation to a specified purpose, is to be submitted to him for approval.

“(2) For the purposes of this Act, the Minister, after consultation with the appropriate Minister of a State, may approve—

(a) a program of proposed allocations for local roads in respect of the construction and maintenance of rural local roads in respect of the State for a period to which this section applies; and

(b) a program of proposed allocations for local roads in respect of the construction of urban local roads in respect of the State for a period to which this section applies.

“(3) The Minister may approve a variation of a program of proposed allocations for local roads approved by him.

“(4) A reference in this section to a period to which this section applies is a reference to—

(a) the year that commenced on 1 July 1975 and ends on 30 June 1976; or

(b) the year commencing on 1 July 1976 and ending on 30 June 1977.”.

Amount of grants.

13. Section 5 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (2) and substituting the following sub-section:—

“(2) Moneys are payable to a State under sub-section (1) for the purpose of enabling the carrying out of—

(a) approved projects; or

(b) road works to which an approved allocation relates.”

Grants for which financial assistance may be granted.

14. Section 6 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by inserting in sub-section (2), after the word and figure “Schedule 2”, the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 9 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 9”;

(b) by omitting sub-section (3) and substituting the following sub-section:—

“(3) A State shall, out of moneys paid to it under section 5 in respect of a year, expend during that year on the construction and maintenance of rural local roads, in accordance with an approved program for that year, an amount equal to the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 3 plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 10 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 10. ”;

(c) by adding at the end of sub-section (4) the words “plus, in the case of New South Wales in respect of the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 11”;

(d) by adding at the end of sub-section (5) the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 12 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 12”;

(e) by omitting sub-section (6) and substituting the following sub-section:—

“(6) A State shall, out of moneys paid to it under section 5 in of a year, expend during that year on the construction of urban local roads, in accordance with an approved program for that year, an amount equal to the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 6 plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 13 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 13.”;

(f) by adding at the end of sub-section (8) the words “plus, where the State is a State to which Schedule 9 relates and the year is the year that commenced on 1 July 1975, 10 per centum of the amount that is applicable to the State in respect of that year in accordance with Schedule 9”;

(g) by inserting in sub-section (10), after the word “project”, the words or in pursuance of an approved allocation,”;

(h) by inserting in sub-section (11), after the word “project” (first occurring), the words or in pursuance of an approved allocation,”;

(i) by inserting in paragraph (a) of sub-section (11), after the word “project” (first occurring), the words “or in pursuance of any other approved allocation”; and

(j) by inserting in paragraph (b) of sub-section (11), after the word “project”, the words “, or in pursuance of that allocation,”.

Variation of amounts specified in Schedules.

15. (1) Section 8 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub-section (1) and substituting the following sub-section:—

“(1) Where a State satisfies the Minister that—

(a) the amount specified in Schedule 2, 3,4, 5, 6 or 7; or

(b) the sum of the amounts specified in Schedules 2 and 9, Schedules 3 and 10, Schedules 4 and 11, Schedules 5 and 12 or Schedules 6 and 13,

in relation to the State in respect of a year is greater than the amount that the State has been, or will be, able to expend, in accordance with this Act, in that year for the purpose or purposes specified in sub-sections 6 and (8) or under sub-section 6 (3), (4), (5), (6) or (7), whichever is relevant, the Minister may direct that the amount referred to in paragraph (a) or either or both of the amounts constituting the sum referred to in paragraph (b) shall be deemed to be reduced by such amount or amounts, as the case may be, as is specified by the Minister.”.

(2) A direction given by the Minister under section 8 of the Principal Act before the commencement of this Act has effect after the commencement of this Act as if it had been given by the Minister under section 8 of the Principal Act as amended by this Act.

16. After section 8 of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Variation of amounts specified in Schedules by reason of relative priorities.

“8a. (1) Where a State satisfies the Minister that, by reason of particular works in relation to roads having a lesser priority than other particular works in relation to roads—

(a) an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act in relation to the State in respect of a year, being an amount required by this Act to be expended on works of a kind in which the first-mentioned works are included, should be reduced by an amount specified by the State (in this section referred to as ‘the amount of the variation’); and

(b) an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act or a Schedule to the National Roads Act 1974-1976 in relation to the State in respect of that year, being—

(i). an amount required by this Act to be expended on works of a kind in which those second-mentioned works are included; or

(ii). an amount available under the National Roads Act 1974-1976 by way of financial assistance to the State in relation to expenditure by the State in respect of those second-mentioned works,

should be increased by an amount equal to the amount of the variation,

the Minister may direct that the amounts so specified shall be deemed to be respectively reduced and increased by the amount of the variation.

“(2) A direction shall not be given under sub-section (1) in relation to a State if it could result in the State becoming liable to repay an amount to Australia under this Act.

“(3) A direction having effect in relation to an amount specified in a Schedule to the National Roads Act 1974-1976 shall not be given under sub-section (1) unless the Treasurer has concurred in the direction.

“(4) Where a direction under sub-section (1) has effect both in relation to an amount specified in a Schedule to this Act and to an amount specified in a Schedule to the National Roads Act 1974-1976, that direction shall further direct that the amount specified in Schedule 1 to this Act in relation to the State to which the direction relates in respect of the year to which the direction relates shall be deemed to be reduced by an amount equal to the amount of the variation.

“(6) Where a direction given under sub-section (1) relates both to amounts specified in Schedules to this Act and an amount specified in a Schedule to the National Roads Act 1974-1976, this Act and that Act have effect as if the amounts referred to in the direction had been respectively reduced and increased in accordance with the direction.

“(7) A reference in sub-section (1) to a Schedule to this Act shall be read as not including a reference to Schedule 1 or 8.”.

Expenditure by a State from its own resources.

17. Section 9 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (7) the words “a project” and substituting the words “an approved project, or in pursuance of an approved allocation,”.

Schedule 1.

18. Schedule 1 to the Principal Act is amended by omitting the column headed “Year commencing 1 July 1975” and substituting the following column:

	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	S
	83,100,000
	64,800,000
	57,400,000
	17,800,000
	44,200,000
	11,700,000
	279,000,000

Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7.

19. Schedules 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 to the Principal Act are amended by omitting the column headed “Total” (wherever occurring).

Schedule 8

20. Schedule 8 to the Principal Act is amended by omitting the schedules, column headed “Year commencing 1 July 1975” and substituting the following column: —

	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
	146,800,000
	110,400,000
	50,100,000
	33,500,000
	33,500,000
	11,200,000

New Schedules.

21. The Principal Act is amended by adding after Schedule 8 the following Schedules:—

SCHEDULE 9 Section 6(2) and (8)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS TO BE EXPENDED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF RURAL ARTERIAL ROADS AND DEVELOPMENTAL ROADS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales...................................................	5,730,000
Victoria.........................................................	2,660,000
Queensland.......................................................	2,800,000
South Australia....................................................	270,000
Western Australia...................................................	1,380,000
Tasmania........................................................	400,000
Total..................................................	13,240,000

_________

SCHEDULE 10 Section 6(3)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS TO BE EXPENDED ON THE CONSTRUCTION AND MAINTENANCE OF RURAL LOCAL ROADS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales..................................................	2,480,000
Victoria.........................................................	6,650,000
Queensland.......................................................	3,140,000
South Australia....................................................	800,000
Western Australia..................................................	1,760,000
Tasmania........................................................	730,000
Total..................................................	15,560,000

___________

SCHEDULE 11 Section 6(4)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNT OF GRANT TO BE EXPENDED ON MINOR TRAFFIC ENGINEERING AND ROAD SAFETY IMPROVEMENTS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales..................................................	450,000
Total........................................................	450,000

_______

SCHEDULE 12 Section 6 (5)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS TO BE EXPENDED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF URBAN ARTERIAL ROADS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales.................................................	6,660,000
Victoria.......................................................	3,990,000
Queensland.....................................................	2,460,000
South Australia..................................................	1,490,000
Western Australia.................................................	3,320,000
Tasmania......................................................	620,000
Total....................................................	18,540,000

_________

SCHEDULE 13 Section 6 (6)

ADDITIONAL AMOUNTS OF GRANTS TO BE EXPENDED ON THE CONSTRUCTION OF URBAN LOCAL ROADS

State	Year commencing 1 July 1975
	$
New South Wales.................................................	580,000
Queensland.....................................................	300,000
South Australia..................................................	140,000
Western Australia................................................	240,000
Tasmania......................................................	50,000
Total....................................................	1,310,000

Validation.

22. (1) Where, before the commencement of this Act, the Minister gave a notification to a State with respect to a program of proposed allocations for local roads or approved a program of proposed allocations for local roads, whether or not the Minister purported to give the notification or approval under a provision of the Principal Act, that notification or approval shall be deemed to be as valid and effectual as if this Act had been in force at the time of the notification or approval and the notification or approval had been given under section 4a of the Principal Act, as amended by this Act.

(2). In this section, “Minister” means the Minister administering the Principal Act at the relevant time, and includes a delegate of that Minister.

Overview

The Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to address the need for additional financial assistance to states for road infrastructure projects, particularly in relation to the construction and maintenance of national highways, export roads, and major commercial roads. This Act amends the National Roads Act 1974 and the Roads Grants Act 1974 to facilitate this financial assistance, which is intended to support states in their road-related expenditures. The primary policy objective is to ensure that states can adequately fund their respective road projects by providing supplementary grants and allowing for the adjustment of these grants based on varying priorities and financial capabilities. The Act provides mechanisms for the Minister to adjust the amounts specified in various schedules according to states' specific needs and capabilities, thereby promoting efficient allocation of financial resources for road infrastructure development.

Scope and Application

The Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976 applies to the National Roads Act 1974 and the Roads Grants Act 1974, both of which are amended by this Act. The Act pertains to the provision of financial assistance to states for roads, including the construction and maintenance of national highways, export roads, major commercial roads, rural arterial roads, developmental roads, rural local roads, urban local roads, urban arterial roads, and minor traffic engineering and road safety improvements. The amendments apply to the specific year commencing on 1 July 1975. The Act applies to all states of Australia, as evidenced by the various schedules detailing grants for each state. The Act also extends its application through subordinate instruments by allowing the Minister to direct variations in the amounts specified in the schedules based on certain conditions, such as lesser priority works or expenditure capabilities of the states. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions but implies that any direction given by the Minister under the specified conditions will not result in a state becoming liable to repay an amount to Australia.

Key Provisions

The Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976 (the Act) makes significant changes to the National Roads Act 1974 and the Roads Grants Act 1974 (the Principal Acts). Firstly, the Act amends Section 7 of the National Roads Act 1974 by adding additional amounts of grants for the construction and maintenance of highways and roads. The Act specifies additional grants for specific states for particular types of roads, such as national highways, export roads, and major commercial roads, for the year commencing 1 July 1975 (Sections 4(a), 4(b), 4(c)). Secondly, the Act amends Section 11 of the National Roads Act 1974 by allowing the Minister to direct a reduction in the amount specified in the schedules if the state satisfies the Minister that the specified amount is greater than what the state can expend in that year (Section 5(1)). The Act also introduces a new Section 11A, allowing the Minister to vary the amounts specified in the schedules by reason of relative priorities, provided that the state does not become liable to repay an amount to Australia and, if applicable, the Treasurer concurs in the direction (Section 6(1)-(7)). Under the Act, states are required to submit programs of proposed allocations for local roads for approval by the Minister. The Minister may approve a program of proposed allocations for local roads for a period of one year, commencing 1 July 1975 or 1 July 1976 (Sections 4a(1)-(4)). States must expend moneys paid to them under the Roads Grants Act 1974 on the construction and maintenance of rural local roads and urban local roads, in accordance with an approved program for that year. The Act specifies additional amounts of grants to be expended on various types of roads for the year commencing 1 July 1975 (Sections 6(2)-(6), 6(8)-(13)). The Act imposes penalties and consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. A state that fails to expend moneys paid to it under the Roads Grants Act 1974 on the construction and maintenance of rural local roads and urban local roads in accordance with an approved program for that year may be liable to repay an amount to Australia. The Act also allows for the variation of amounts specified in the schedules by reason of relative priorities, provided that the state does not become liable to repay an amount to Australia under the Act (Sections 6(2), 8a(2)). Additionally, the Act provides that any notification or approval given by the Minister before the commencement of the Act shall be deemed to be as valid and effectual as if the Act had been in force at the time of the notification or approval (Section 22). In conclusion, the Roads Acts Amendment Act 1976 amends the National Roads Act 1974 and the Roads Grants Act 1974 by introducing additional grants for specific states for particular types of roads, allowing for the variation of amounts specified in the schedules, and imposing consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. States are required to submit programs of proposed allocations for local roads for approval by the Minister and expend moneys paid to them on the construction and maintenance of rural local roads and urban local roads in accordance with an approved program for that year. Failure to comply with the Act may result in a state being liable to repay an amount to Australia.

Area of Law: Environmental Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations; Enforcement Powers

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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.

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