STATES GRANTS (DROUGHT RELIEF).
No. 72 of 1940.
An Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a sum for the purpose of making Grants to the States for the purpose of Drought Relief.
[Assented to 16th December, 1940.]
[Date of commencement, 13th January, 1941.]
Preamble.
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 (Drought Relief) Act 1940.
Payment for financial assistance to States.
2. There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, for the purpose of financial assistance to the States, the sum of One million pounds.
Allocation of grant.
3. The amount payable to each State under this Act shall be such amount as the Governor-General determines:
Provided that no determination under this section shall be made until after the Minister has conferred with State Ministers respectively representing each of the six States concerning the amounts to be paid under this Act to the States.
Conditions of grant.
4. Any amount granted and paid to a State in pursuance of this Act shall be paid to that State upon the condition that it is applied by that State, in a manner approved by the Minister, for the purpose of the alleviation of hardship suffered by wheat-growers in consequence of drought.
Overview
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1940 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the economic hardship faced by wheat-growers during a period of severe drought. The Act was intended to provide financial assistance to the states, enabling them to alleviate the difficulties experienced by farmers. This was achieved through the appropriation of one million pounds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, to be distributed among the states based on the Governor-General's determination after consultation with relevant state ministers. The policy objective of the Act was to ensure that the financial aid provided would be used specifically for measures that alleviate the hardship suffered by wheat-growers due to drought, as approved by the Minister.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1940 applies to the States of Australia and is enacted to provide financial assistance to alleviate hardship experienced by wheat-growers due to drought conditions. The Act allocates a sum of One million pounds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for this purpose and specifies that the amount payable to each State is to be determined by the Governor-General, subject to consultation with the relevant State Ministers. The conditions of the grant require that the funds be used in a manner approved by the Minister and directed towards the alleviation of hardship specifically caused by drought among wheat-growers. The Act applies nationally across Australia and extends its jurisdiction to the Commonwealth level, with the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and the allocation determined by the Governor-General in consultation with state representatives. There are no stated exclusions or exemptions within the Act itself, but the specific application of the grant is subject to ministerial approval, potentially extending or restricting its use through subordinate instruments.
Key Provisions
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1940, specifically in Section 2, mandates the payment of one million pounds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial assistance of the States. Section 3 details that the amount payable to each state is to be determined by the Governor-General, but only after the Minister has consulted with the respective State Ministers regarding the amounts to be allocated under this Act. Section 4 stipulates that any funds granted and paid to a State must be applied to alleviate the hardship suffered by wheat-growers due to drought, in a manner approved by the Minister.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties involved. The Minister must consult with State Ministers to determine the amounts to be allocated to each State, as outlined in Section 3. The State Ministers must ensure that the grants received are used strictly for the intended purpose of aiding wheat-growers affected by drought, in accordance with Section 4. Furthermore, the Minister has the authority to approve the manner in which the funds are applied by the States, ensuring compliance with the Act's conditions.
Failure to comply with the provisions of the Act may result in significant consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties, the misuse of funds allocated for drought relief could potentially lead to civil or criminal proceedings. In such cases, the penalties could include fines or other legal actions, depending on the nature and severity of the breach. The maximum penalties, however, are not specified within the text of the Act itself.