States Grants (No. 2)
No. 71 of 1967
An Act relating to the Grant of Financial Assistance to the States.
[Assented to 6 November 1967]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the States Grants Act (No. 2) 1967.
(2.) Section 1 of the States Grants Act 1967 is amended by omitting sub-section (3.).
(3.) The States Grants Act 1965–1966, as amended by the States Grants Act 1967 and by this Act, may be cited as the States Grants Act 1965–1967.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Grants to States.
3. Section 5 of the States Grants Act 1965–1966, as amended by the States Grants Act 1967, is amended—
(a) by omitting from sub-section (1.) the word “sixty-six” and inserting in its stead the word “sixty-seven”; and
(b) by omitting sub-section (3.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-sections:—
“(2.) For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of the grant under this section payable to a State during the year that commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven, there shall be deemed to have been payable under this section to that State during the year preceding that year a grant equal to the amount specified in the following table opposite to the name of the State:—
| $ |
New South Wales................ | 276,793,894 |
Victoria...................... | 208,790,217 |
Queensland.................... | 127,514,206 |
South Australia................. | 94,345,856 |
Western Australia................ | 86,395,579 |
Tasmania..................... | 34,772,852. |
“(3.) For the purpose of ascertaining the amount of the grant payable to the State of Queensland during the year commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight, or on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine, the amount of the grant under this section payable to that State in the year preceding the year concerned shall be deemed to be an amount equal to the sum of the amount of that last-mentioned grant and Two million dollars.”.
Overview
The States Grants (No. 2) Act 1967 was enacted to amend the States Grants Act 1965–1966, providing financial assistance to the states for specific years. This legislation was introduced to address the need for updated financial allocations to states in line with their requirements and the federal budget. Enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, the policy objective of this Act was to ensure that financial grants are appropriately adjusted and distributed to the states for the fiscal years 1967 and subsequent years as needed. The Act makes specific amendments to the previous legislation, detailing the amounts to be granted to each state, thereby facilitating effective fiscal management and support across the nation.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (No. 2) Act 1967 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and the individual states within it, specifically those identified in the Act—New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. This Act pertains to the financial grants that the Commonwealth government provides to these states, ensuring that each state receives a specific amount of funding to support their respective budgets and expenditures. The geographic scope is national, encompassing all Australian states and territories while providing financial assistance at a federal level. The Act specifies the exact amount of grant each state should receive for the fiscal year beginning on the first of July 1967, and also outlines the adjustments to be made for subsequent years. The Act does not provide explicit information on exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds but focuses on the distribution and calculation of financial assistance. Additionally, the Act can be further detailed and modified through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments in the financial support framework as necessary.
Key Provisions
The States Grants (No. 2) Act 1967 primarily modifies the States Grants Act 1965–1966, focusing on the financial assistance provided to the states for the year commencing on the first day of July 1967. Under section 3(2), specific amounts are designated for each state for the financial year starting on 1 July 1967, including $276,793,894 for New South Wales, $208,790,217 for Victoria, $127,514,206 for Queensland, $94,345,856 for South Australia, $86,395,579 for Western Australia, and $34,772,852 for Tasmania. Furthermore, section 3(3) stipulates that for Queensland, the grant amount for the years commencing on the first day of July 1968 and 1969 will be the sum of the previous year's grant plus an additional $2,000,000.
The Act imposes specific obligations on the Commonwealth Government to provide the outlined financial assistance to the states for the designated period. The financial figures set out in section 3(2) must be adhered to, ensuring each state receives the stipulated amount. The Commonwealth is also mandated to adjust the grant for Queensland as specified in section 3(3) for the subsequent years.
Breach of the obligations set out in this Act would not explicitly incur penalties or criminal consequences, as the Act does not specify penalties for non-compliance. However, failure to provide the grants as stipulated could lead to significant legal and political ramifications, as the Act is a legislative mandate for financial support to the states. It is important for the Commonwealth to comply with the provisions to maintain the financial stability and governance frameworks agreed upon under the States Grants Act.