STATES GRANTS (DROUGHT RELIEF).
No. 43 of 1944.
An Act to grant and apply out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund a Sum for the purpose of making Grants to certain States for the purpose of Drought Relief.
[Assented to 7th December, 1944.]
[Date of commencement, 4th January, 1945.]
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 1944.
Definition.
2. In this Act, “cereal crops” means crops of wheat, oats or barley or wheaten or oaten hay.
Payment for financial assistance to certain States.
3. There shall be payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, the amounts payable in accordance with this Act, but not exceeding in the whole the sum of One million five hundred thousand pounds, for the purpose of financial assistance to the States of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia, or such of those States as the Governor-General, having regard to the effects of drought on cereal crops in each of those States, determines.
Allocation of grant.
4. The amount payable to each State under this Act shall be such amount as the Governor-General determines, but no such determination shall be made until after the Minister has conferred with the Premiers of each of the States to which an amount is payable under this Act concerning the amounts to be paid to those States.
Conditions of grant.
5. Any amount granted and paid to a State under this Act shall he paid to that State upon condition—
(a) that it is applied by that State, in a manner approved by the Minister, for the purpose of the alleviation of hardship suffered, in consequence of drought, by persons concerned in the production of cereal crops; and
(b) that an equal amount will be made available by the State and that the amount so made available will be applied by the State for the same purpose, and in the same manner, as the amount payable to that State under this Act.
Overview
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1944 was enacted to address the pressing issue of severe drought conditions impacting cereal crop production in various Australian states. This Act was passed by the Commonwealth Parliament, aiming to provide financial assistance to the States of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, or to such states as the Governor-General determines based on the extent of drought's impact on cereal crops. The Act appropriates funds from the Consolidated Revenue to be granted as financial relief, with the total amount not exceeding one million five hundred thousand pounds. The payment of these grants is conditional on the states using the funds to alleviate the hardship caused by drought for individuals involved in cereal crop production, and matching the grant with an equal amount of their own funds for the same purpose.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1944 applies to the States of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia, focusing specifically on providing financial assistance to alleviate the hardships caused by drought on cereal crop production. The Act mandates that the Governor-General, considering the impact of drought on cereal crops, determines the allocation of funds to these states, ensuring that the aid is directed where it is most needed. The funds, not exceeding one million five hundred thousand pounds, are intended to be applied by the respective states to support those involved in the production of wheat, oats, barley, or their hay, and must be matched by an equal contribution from the state itself. This Act underscores the Commonwealth’s role in providing financial relief during times of significant agricultural distress, ensuring that the assistance is both targeted and effectively utilised.
Key Provisions
The States Grants (Drought Relief) Act 1944 (section 1) provides a legislative framework for the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to assist states impacted by drought. This Act is specifically targeted at the States of New South Wales, Victoria, South Australia, and Western Australia (section 3), with the total amount of financial assistance not exceeding £1,500,000. The Act mandates that the grant amount to each state must be determined by the Governor-General, following consultation with the Minister and the Premiers of the states in question (section 4). Additionally, the grant is to be applied by the states in a manner approved by the Minister for the alleviation of hardship caused by drought to persons involved in the production of cereal crops, which are defined as crops of wheat, oats, barley, or their corresponding hay (section 5).
Under this Act, the obligations placed on the states receiving the grants are stringent and specific. Each state must apply the grant in a manner approved by the Minister, ensuring that the funds are used to alleviate the hardship resulting from drought affecting cereal crop production (section 5(a)). Furthermore, each state must match the grant with an equal amount from its own funds, which must also be applied for the same purpose and in the same manner as the Commonwealth grant (section 5(b)). This dual requirement ensures that the federal and state governments share the financial burden and responsibility of addressing the drought-related hardships.
The Act outlines serious consequences for any breach of the conditions attached to the grants. While the specific penalties are not detailed within the provided text, it is clear that any misuse of the funds or failure to meet the conditions set forth would likely result in severe legal and financial repercussions. Such breaches could potentially lead to the withholding of future grants or even the recovery of misapplied funds, as is typical with legislative provisions of this nature. The gravity of non-compliance suggests that states must adhere strictly to the stipulated conditions to ensure continued support and avoid adverse legal consequences.