STATES GRANTS (No. 2).
No. 67 of 1947.
An Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund sums for the purposes of Financial Assistance to the States of South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania.
[Assented to 4th December, 1947.]
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants Act (No. 2) 1947.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Payment of financial assistance to States.
3. There shall be payable to the States of South Australia, Western Australia and Tasmania, during the year which commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-seven, for the purposes of financial assistance, the sum of Five million and forty-two thousand pounds.
Allocation of grant.
4. The amount payable to each State under this Act shall be the amount shown in the following table opposite the name of that State:—
| £ |
South Australia............. | 2,318,000 |
Western Australia............ | 1,977,000 |
Tasmania................. | 747,000 |
| 5,042,000 |
Appropriation.
5. Payments in accordance with this Act shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly.
Overview
The States Grants (No. 2) Act 1947 was enacted to address the need for financial assistance to the states of South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. This legislation was introduced to provide a specific sum to these states from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to aid their financial needs during the specified period. Enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia, the Act was assented to on 4th December 1947, and its policy objective was to ensure the timely and appropriate allocation of funds to support the economic stability and development of these states. The Act outlines the amounts to be granted to each state and appropriates the necessary funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to facilitate this financial assistance.
Scope and Application
The States Grants Act (No. 2) 1947 applies to the States of South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, providing them with financial assistance from the Commonwealth's Consolidated Revenue Fund. This legislative enactment was created to allocate specific sums to these states for the financial year commencing 1 July 1947. The Act outlines that South Australia will receive £2,318,000, Western Australia £1,977,000, and Tasmania £747,000, summing up to the total grant of £5,042,000. The Act comes into effect on the day it receives Royal Assent, and payments are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund as appropriated by this Act. No exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are specified within the text of this particular Act, and it does not extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the States Grants (No. 2) Act 1947 (sections 3 and 4) establish the financial assistance to be provided to the states of South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. Specifically, section 3 mandates that a sum of Five million and forty-two thousand pounds be paid during the fiscal year commencing 1 July 1947 for the purpose of financial assistance. Section 4 further specifies the allocation of this grant, allocating £2,318,000 to South Australia, £1,977,000 to Western Australia, and £747,000 to Tasmania. The Act also appropriates this amount from the Consolidated Revenue Fund (section 5), ensuring that the necessary funds are available for the stated payments.
The Act imposes certain obligations on the government to ensure the timely and accurate disbursement of the specified grants. Under section 3, the government is obligated to pay the specified sums to the respective states. Section 4’s allocation details necessitate that the payments are made according to the prescribed amounts, ensuring that each state receives its designated share. Furthermore, section 5 ensures that the payments are made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated for this specific purpose, thereby providing a clear financial source for the grants.
There are no explicit provisions in the Act detailing offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. However, given the statutory nature of the Act and its appropriation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, failure to comply with the payment obligations could potentially result in legal and financial repercussions. These might include civil actions for breach of statutory duty or other legal remedies available under Australian law. While the Act does not specify maximum penalties, such breaches could lead to significant legal and administrative consequences, impacting the Commonwealth’s financial obligations and the states' receipt of the allocated funds.