States Grants (Schools Assistance) Amendment Act 1978

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Legislation au C2004A01832 Not in force Act

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STATES GRANTS (SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE) AMENDMENT ACT 1978

No. 33 of 1978

An Act to amend the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972, the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976 and the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977, and for related purposes.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

PART I—PRELIMINARY

Short title

1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Amendment Act 1978.

Commencement

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

PART II—AMENDMENT OF STATES GRANTS (SCHOOLS) ACT 1972

Schedule

3. The Schedule to the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972 is repealed and the Schedule set out in Schedule 1 to this Act is substituted.

PART III—AMENDMENTS OF STATES GRANTS (SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE) ACT 1976

Principal Act

4. The States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Limit on additional grants for schools in need of short-term emergency assistance

5. Section 17 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$844,000” and substituting “$654,800”.

Limit on grants under sub-section 36(1)

6. Section 37 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$358,500” and substituting “$363,000”.

Limit on grants under sub-section 38(1)

7. Section 39 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$1,259,500” and substituting “$1,279,000”.

Limit on grants under sub-section 41(1)

8. Section 42 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$4,507,000” and substituting “$4,576,000”.

Schedules

9. The Schedules to the Principal Act are repealed and the Schedules set out in Schedule 2 to this Act are substituted.

Directions under Principal Act

10. A direction given under sub-section 33(4) of the Principal Act shall, by force of this section, cease to have effect upon the commencement of this Act, but this section shall not be taken to affect the previous operation of the direction.

PART IV—AMENDMENTS OF STATES GRANTS (SCHOOLS ASSISTANCE) ACT 1977

Principal Act

11. The States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977 is in this Part referred to as the Principal Act.

Limit on grants under section 32

12. Section 33 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$105,000” and substituting “$108,500”.

Limit on grants under section 34

13. Section 35 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$1,362,000” and substituting “$1,413,500”.

Limit on grants under section 37

14. Section 38 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting “$3,771,500” and substituting “$3,914,500”.

Schedules

15. The Schedules to the Principal Act are repealed and the Schedules set out in Schedule 3 to this Act are substituted.

SCHEDULES

SCHEDULE 1 Section 3

New Schedule to be inserted in the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972

SCHEDULE Section 8

LIMITS OF GRANTS FOR CAPITAL EXPENDITURE

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Maximum grants for capital expenditure for government schools	Maximum grants for capital expenditure for non-government schools	Total maximum grants
	$	$	$
New South Wales...................	68,704,500	20,325,500	89,030,000
Victoria..........................	52,964,500	17,794,000	70,758,500
Queensland........................	26,771,500	8,268,000	35,039,500
South Australia.....................	20,682,000	3,445,000	24,127,000
Western Australia...................	15,739,500	4,015,500	19,755,000
Tasmania.........................	7,007,000	1,260,000	8,267,000
Totals........................	191,869,000	55,108,000	246,977,000

SCHEDULE 2 Section 9

New Schedules to be inserted in the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976

SCHEDULE 1 Sections 7 and 13

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS—BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT PROJECTS AND
RECURRENT EXPENDITURE

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Building and equipment projects	Recurrent expenditure	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales...................	29,639,500	75,872,000	105,511,500
Victoria..........................	25,936,000	60,466,500	86,402,500
Queensland........................	21,017,000	20,661,500	41,678,500
South Australia.....................	9,160,500	19,060,500	28,221,000
Western Australia...................	8,112,500	15,281,500	23,394,000
Tasmania.........................	2,490,500	6,007,500	8,498,000
Totals......................	96,356,000	197,349,500	293,705,500

SCHEDULE 2—continued

SCHEDULE 2 Section 11

NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS—BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT PROJECTS

Column 1	Column 2
Name of State	Amounts
	$
New South Wales............................................	4,940,000
Victoria...................................................	4,916,500
Queensland................................................	2,045,000
South Australia..............................................	992,500
Western Australia............................................	969,000
Tasmania..................................................	440,000
Total................................................	14,303,000

SCHEDULE 3 Sections 12(2)(a) and 16

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE—MIGRANT EDUCATION

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Government schools	Non-government schools	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales.................	6,373,000	2,115,500	8,488,500
Victoria........................	9,215,000	2,543,000	11,758,000
Queensland......................	528,000	99,500	627,500
South Australia...................	1,437,000	890,500	2,327,500
Western Australia.................	567,000	1,248,000	1,815,000
Tasmania.......................	352,000	11,500	363,500
Totals....................	18,472,000	6,908,000	25,380,000

SCHEDULE 4 Sections 14 and 15

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE—LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE FOR NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Level of assistance	Amount per primary school student	Amount per secondary school student
	$	$
1.........................................	91	142
2.........................................	121	193
3.........................................	152	244
4.........................................	182	296
5.........................................	212	347
6.........................................	249	398

SCHEDULE 2—continued

SCHEDULE 5 Sections 19, 22 and 24

DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS AND DISADVANTAGED COUNTRY AREAS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Name of State	Disadvantaged government schools	Disadvantaged non-government schools	Disadvantaged country areas	Totals
	$	$	$	$
New South Wales...	5,978,000	950,500	1,197,000	8,125,500
Victoria..........	6,154,000	1,126,000	680,500	7,960,500
Queensland........	1,724,500	152,500	985,500	2,862,500
South Australia.....	1,689,500	223,000	322,500	2,235,000
Western Australia...	985,500	123,000	686,000	1,794,500
Tasmania.........	352,000	53,000	234,500	639,500
Totals......	16,883,500	2,628,000	4,106,000	23,617,500

SCHEDULE 6 Sections 27 and 29

SPECIAL SCHOOLS AND RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Name of State	Government special schools	Non-government special schools	Residential institutions	Totals
	$	$	$	$
New South Wales.....	4,158,000	951,500	410,500	5,520,000
Victoria............	2,809,000	1,186,000	328,500	4,323,500
Queensland..........	1,513,500	668,500	181,500	2,363,500
South Australia.......	1,126,000	105,500	111,500	1,343,000
Western Australia.....	962,000	147,000	100,000	1,209,000
Tasmania...........	399,000		41,000	440,000
Totals........	10,967,500	3,058,500	1,173,000	15,199,000

SCHEDULE 7 Section 33

DEVELOPMENT AND SERVICE ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Approved development and service activities	Teacher remuneration and teacher replacement	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales................	2,740,000	3,127,000	5,867,000
Victoria.......................	2,276,000	2,593,000	4,869,000
Queensland.....................	1,179,000	1,343,000	2,522,000

SCHEDULE 2—continued

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Approved development and service activities	Teacher remuneration and teacher replacement	Totals
	$	$	$
South Australia......................	768,500	874,000	1,642,500
Western Australia....................	657,000	751,000	1,408,000
Tasmania..........................	362,500	282,500	645,000
Totals.......................	7,983,000	8,970,500	16,953,500

SCHEDULE 3 Section 15

New Schedules to be inserted in the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977

SCHEDULE 1 Section 7

GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS—BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT PROJECTS AND
RECURRENT EXPENDITURE

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Building and equipment projects	Recurrent expenditure	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales.....................	36,176,000	78,103,500	114,279,500
Victoria............................	31,396,500	59,811,500	91,208,000
Queensland..........................	24,118,500	20,653,000	44,771,500
South Australia.......................	11,196,500	19,209,000	30,405,500
Western Australia.....................	10,287,500	15,218,500	25,506,000
Tasmania...........................	3,321,000	6,008,500	9,329,500
Totals........................	116,496,000	199,004,000	315,500,000

SCHEDULE 2 Sections 6(2)(a) and 18

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE—MIGRANT EDUCATION

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Government schools	Non-government schools	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales..........	6,570,000	2,476,000	9,046,000
Victoria.................	8,691,000	2,731,000	11,422,000
Queensland...............	673,000	200,000	873,000
South Australia............	1,716,000	877,500	2,593,500

SCHEDULE 3—continued

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Government schools	Non-government schools	Totals
	$	$	$
Western Australia................................	753,500	1,203,500	1,957,000
Tasmania......................................	350,000	13,500	363,500
Totals................................	18,753,500	7,501,500	26,255,000

SCHEDULE 3 Sections 9, 22 and 27

DISADVANTAGED SCHOOLS AND DISADVANTAGED COUNTRY AREAS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4	Column 5
Name of State	Disadvantaged government schools	Disadvantaged non-government schools	Disadvantaged country areas	Totals
	$	$	$	$
New South Wales................................	6,153,500	978,500	1,233,000	8,365,000
Victoria.......................................	6,334,000	1,159,000	700,500	8,193,500
Queensland....................................	1,775,500	157,500	1,015,500	2,948,500
South Australia..................................	1,738,500	229,500	332,500	2,300,500
Western Australia................................	1,014,500	126,000	707,000	1,847,500
Tasmania......................................	362,000	54,500	241,500	658,000
Totals.................................	17,378,000	2,705,000	4,230,000	24,313,000

SCHEDULE 4 Sections 11 and 24

SPECIAL SCHOOLS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3	Column 4
Name of State	Government special schools	Non-government special schools	Totals
	$	$	$
New South Wales.................	4,308,000	951,500	5,259,500
Victoria........................	2,893,500	1,218,000	4,111,500
Queensland......................	1,557,000	688,500	2,245,500
South Australia...................	1,160,000	108,500	1,268,500
Western Australia.................	990,500	151,000	1,141,500
Tasmania.......................	410,000		410,000
Totals....................	11,319,000	3,117,500	14,436,500

SCHEDULE 3—continued

SCHEDULE 5 Section 15

NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS–BUILDING AND EQUIPMENT PROJECTS

Column 1	Column 2
Name of State	Amounts
	$
New South Wales............................................	8,392,000
Victoria...................................................	8,160,500
Queensland................................................	3,915,500
South Australia..............................................	1,710,500
Western Australia............................................	2,020,500
Tasmania..................................................	641,500
Total...................................................	24,840,500

SCHEDULE 6 Sections 16 and 17

RECURRENT EXPENDITURE—LEVELS OF ASSISTANCE FOR NON-GOVERNMENT SCHOOLS

Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Level of assistance	Amount per primary school student	Amount per secondary school student
	$	$
1.........................................	119	182
2.........................................	152	238
3.........................................	169	266
4.........................................	202	322
5.........................................	237	379
6.........................................	278	434

SCHEDULE 7 Section 29

RESIDENTIAL INSTITUTIONS

Column 1	Column 2
Name of State	Amounts
	$
New South Wales............................................	422,000
Victoria...................................................	338,000
Queensland................................................	187,000
South Australia..............................................	114,000
Western Australia............................................	103,500
Tasmania..................................................	42,500
Total................................................	1,207,000

SCHEDULE 3—continued

SCHEDULE 8 Section 31

SERVICE AND DEVELOPMENT ACTIVITIES

Column 1	Column 2
Name of State	Amounts
	$
New South Wales...........................................	5,169,000
Victoria..................................................	4,195,000
Queensland...............................................	2,168,000
South Australia.............................................	1,387,500
Western Australia...........................................	1,239,500
Tasmania.................................................	450,000
Total...............................................	14,609,000

Overview

The States Grants (Schools Assistance) Amendment Act 1978 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972, the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976, and the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977. The primary objective of this legislation was to adjust the financial limits and allocations for various grants intended to assist schools, including capital expenditure, building and equipment projects, recurrent expenditure, and specific assistance for disadvantaged schools, migrant education, and special schools. This amendment act aimed to ensure that the funding allocations were updated to reflect the current needs and financial circumstances of the states involved. The act introduced new schedules replacing the existing ones in the aforementioned acts to provide revised limits and allocations for the different categories of grants.

Scope and Application

The States Grants (Schools Assistance) Amendment Act 1978 applies to the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972, the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976, and the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977, introducing amendments to these acts primarily for the purpose of updating the monetary limits of various grants provided to schools across different states and territories in Australia. These amendments impact government and non-government schools, affecting areas such as capital expenditure, building and equipment projects, recurrent expenditure, and support for disadvantaged schools and special schools. The Act's geographic reach is national, as it pertains to the distribution of Commonwealth funds to state and territory governments for educational purposes. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions but does specify new monetary thresholds for various grants, effectively restricting or extending the financial aid available under the amended Acts. The application of this Act may also be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments such as regulations or directions, although the Act itself does not elaborate on this possibility.

Key Provisions

The States Grants (Schools Assistance) Amendment Act 1978 (C2004A01832) amends several existing pieces of legislation: the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972, the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976, and the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977. The primary focus of the Act is to adjust various financial limits for grants allocated to different types of schools across the states, including government and non-government schools, and to modify specific allocations for particular educational needs and purposes. Section 3 of the Act repeals the Schedule to the States Grants (Schools) Act 1972 and substitutes it with a new Schedule that outlines the maximum grants for capital expenditure for both government and non-government schools across different states. The new limits reflect updated financial allocations to ensure that schools can undertake necessary capital projects. In amending the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1976, the Act revises several sections to reflect updated financial limits. For instance, Section 5 adjusts the limit on additional grants for schools needing short-term emergency assistance, while Section 6 modifies the limit on grants under sub-section 36(1). Sections 7 and 8 further adjust financial limits for building and equipment projects, recurrent expenditure, and other specific allocations for non-government schools, migrant education, and disadvantaged schools and country areas. The Act also amends the States Grants (Schools Assistance) Act 1977 by updating several financial limits. Section 12 changes the limit on grants under section 32, while Section 13 updates the limit on grants under section 34. Sections 14 and 15 revise the allocations for recurrent expenditure in migrant education and levels of assistance for non-government schools, respectively. The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties governed by it, primarily relating to the allocation and usage of funds as per the updated financial limits. Educational institutions and relevant state authorities must ensure that their expenditures align with the newly set grant limits and that funds are used for the intended educational purposes. This includes ensuring that capital expenditure, building and equipment projects, and recurrent costs adhere to the specified allocations. Failure to comply with the financial limits and obligations set out in the Act may result in breaches that could have legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to legal action. Typically, breaches of such legislative provisions might result in the recovery of improperly disbursed funds, administrative penalties, or other civil or criminal sanctions as deemed appropriate by the courts. The exact nature and severity of penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and relevant legal interpretations.

Area of Law: Education Law
Instrument: Amending Act
Concepts: Commencement Provisions; Repeal & Amendment; Transitional Provisions; Regulatory Standards; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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