States Grants (Additional Assistance) Act (No. 2) 1963

Overview

The States Grants (Additional Assistance) Act (No. 2) 1963 was enacted to address the financial needs of various Australian states by providing additional financial assistance. This Act was introduced to offer a direct financial aid to each state for the fiscal year beginning on the first day of July, 1963. The enacting body was the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The policy objective was to support the states with specific amounts of funding to help manage their financial requirements effectively. These payments were to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, ensuring that the necessary funds were appropriated for this purpose. This Act was designed to alleviate financial pressures on the states by providing them with additional funds, as specified in the Schedule, to each respective state. The sums allocated were intended to assist in covering various state expenses, thereby enabling the states to maintain their operations and services without significant financial strain. This form of assistance was crucial in supporting the federal structure of the Australian government by ensuring that the states had the necessary resources to function effectively.

Scope and Application

The States Grants (Additional Assistance) Act (No. 2) 1963 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, providing a legislative framework for the payment of specified sums to the various states for the purpose of financial assistance. This Act applies directly to the states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania, each of which is to receive an amount as detailed in the Schedule. The financial assistance is to be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and is appropriated accordingly. This Act is limited to the financial assistance provided during the fiscal year commencing on the first day of July 1963, with payments to be made in instalments as determined by the Treasurer. The Act does not extend beyond the specific amounts and states mentioned, and any further application or extension of its provisions would require additional legislation.

Key Provisions

The States Grants (Additional Assistance) Act (No. 2) 1963 provides for the payment of additional financial assistance to the states. Section 3(1) specifies that during the financial year starting on 1 July 1963, certain sums are payable to each state for financial assistance, with the amounts detailed in the schedule attached to the Act. The payments are to be made by instalments, with the timing and amount of each instalment determined by the Treasurer, as per Section 3(2). The appropriation for these payments is made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as stated in Section 4. The Act imposes specific obligations on the Commonwealth government regarding the disbursement of funds to the states. Under Section 3(1), the Commonwealth must make the specified payments to each state for the purpose of financial assistance. The Treasurer, as mentioned in Section 3(2), has the authority to determine the timing and amount of each instalment. The Consolidated Revenue Fund, as appropriated in Section 4, must be used to make these payments. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Act may result in legal consequences. However, the Act itself does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches. Generally, breaches of legislative provisions can lead to civil or criminal liability depending on the nature and severity of the breach. In the case of this Act, the lack of specific penalties within the text suggests that any enforcement or repercussions would be pursued through the general legal mechanisms available under Australian law.