STATES GRANTS (COAL STRIKE EMERGENCY).
No. 48 of 1949.
An Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a Sum for the purpose of Financial Assistance to the States by reason of the losses and costs incurred by the States as a result of the Coal Strike.
[Assented to 27th October, 1949.]
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 (Coal Strike Emergency) Act 1949.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Payment for financial assistance to States.
3. There shall be payable to the States, during the year which commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and forty-nine, for the purpose of financial assistance, the sum of Eight million pounds.
Allocation of grant.
4. The sum payable to the States under the last preceding section shall be divided amongst the States in the proportions in which, under section seven of the States Grants (Tax Reimbursement) Act 1946–1948, the aggregate grant referred to in that section is divisible amongst the States for the year ending on the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty.
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 (Coal Strike Emergency) Act 1949 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide financial assistance to the states affected by the coal strike that occurred in 1949. The act aimed to address the economic losses and costs incurred by the states as a result of the strike. The policy objective was to offer financial support to alleviate the economic burden on the states. The act provided for the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to be paid to the states for the specified year, with the allocation of the grant determined based on the provisions of the States Grants (Tax Reimbursement) Act 1946–1948. The act received Royal Assent on 27th October, 1949, and came into operation on the same day.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Coal Strike Emergency) Act 1949 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia and its constituent states, providing financial assistance to the states due to losses and costs incurred as a result of the coal strike. The Act is applicable from the day it receives Royal Assent, as stated in section 2. The eight million pounds payable to the states under section 3 will be divided among them according to the proportions outlined in section 4, which references the States Grants (Tax Reimbursement) Act 1946–1948. The payment for this financial assistance is to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as appropriated in section 5. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in this Act, and no mention of extensions or restrictions through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The primary sections of the States Grants (Coal Strike Emergency) Act 1949 detail the financial assistance provided to states due to the coal strike emergency. Section 3 establishes that a sum of Eight million pounds is payable to the states for the year commencing 1 July 1949. This payment is intended to provide financial assistance to states that incurred losses and costs as a result of the coal strike. Section 4 specifies that the grant will be divided among the states in the same proportions as outlined in the States Grants (Tax Reimbursement) Act 1946–1948 for the year ending 30 June 1950. The Act, as noted in section 5, mandates that these payments are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated for this purpose.
Under the provisions of this Act, the Commonwealth is required to ensure that the financial assistance is distributed equitably among the states based on the criteria established in the referenced Act. This includes adhering to the specified proportions for the division of the grant. The obligation to make payments from the Consolidated Revenue Fund places a responsibility on the Commonwealth to allocate the necessary funds to facilitate these payments to the states.
The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breach within its text. However, any failure to comply with the requirements for the allocation and payment of the grant could potentially result in legal challenges or disputes over the distribution of funds. The consequences of such non-compliance would depend on the outcomes of any legal proceedings and the interpretations provided by relevant courts or tribunals. The maximum penalties, if applicable, are not specified in the Act itself but would be determined by the applicable legal framework governing the enforcement of such statutes.