States Grants (Science Laboratories)
No. 39 of 1965
An Act to grant Financial Assistance to the States for Science Laboratories and Equipment in Schools.
[Assented to 3 June, 1965]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definition.
3. In this Act—
“school” means a school or a similar institution, whether conducted by a State or not;
“the period to which this Act applies” means the period commencing on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-five, and ending on the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight.
Grants for science laboratories and equipment.
4.—(1.) The Minister may authorize the payment to a State, under this Act, during the period to which this Act applies, by way of financial assistance, of such amounts as, subject to the next succeeding sub-section, he determines.
(2.) The Minister shall not authorize payments to a State under the last preceding sub-section that—
(a) exceed, in the aggregate, the amount specified in the Schedule to this Act opposite to the name of the State;
(b) in the case of payments authorized on or before the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-six—exceed, in the aggregate, one-third of that amount; or
(c) in the case of payments authorized on or before the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-seven—exceed, in the aggregate, two-thirds of that amount.
(3.) Payment of an amount to a State under this Act is subject to the condition that the amount will be applied by the State, as approved by the Minister, for purposes in connexion with laboratories and equipment for use in the teaching of science in schools at the secondary level of education.
Appropriation.
5. Payments under this Act shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.
THE SCHEDULE Section 4 (2.).
——
Limit of Grants |
| £ |
New South Wales.................................. | 5,563,200 |
Victoria......................................... | 4,198,800 |
Queensland...................................... | 2,152,200 |
South Australia.................................... | 1,386,600 |
Western Australia.................................. | 1,061,400 |
Tasmania........................................ | 496,500 |
| 14,858,700 |
Overview
The States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide financial assistance to the states for the establishment and equipping of science laboratories in schools. This Act was introduced to address the gap in educational infrastructure, particularly in the field of science, which was considered essential for fostering scientific literacy and research capabilities among students. The policy objective of the Act was to ensure that secondary schools across the states had the necessary facilities and resources to effectively teach science. The Act specifies that the grants are to be applied for laboratories and equipment specifically used in secondary education science teaching. Payments under the Act are subject to limits, with a gradual increase in the allowable expenditure over the three-year period from 1 July 1965 to 30 June 1968. The funding is appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to facilitate these grants.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965 applies to the allocation of financial assistance to various states within Australia, specifically for the establishment and equipping of science laboratories in secondary schools. The Act applies to schools, which are defined to include institutions whether conducted by a state or not, and it operates within the period from the 1st of July 1965 to the 30th of June 1968. The Minister is authorised to make payments to each state, contingent upon certain conditions, including that the funds are used for laboratories and equipment in secondary education science programs. These payments are subject to specific limits outlined in the Act, which include caps on the total amount that can be disbursed to each state and progressive caps for payments made before the 30th of June 1966 and 1967. The Act mandates that the payments be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and these financial provisions are explicitly appropriated for the stated purposes.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the States Grants (Science Laboratories) Act 1965 (Sections 4(1) and 4(2)) authorise the Minister to provide financial assistance to states for the establishment and equipping of science laboratories in secondary schools within a specified period. Section 4(1) grants the Minister the discretion to determine the amounts to be paid, while Section 4(2) imposes specific limitations on the total amount that can be paid to each state. Payments cannot exceed the amount specified in the Schedule for the respective state (Section 4(2)(a)), must not exceed one-third of the specified amount by 30 June 1966 (Section 4(2)(b)), and must not exceed two-thirds of the specified amount by 30 June 1967 (Section 4(2)(c)). Additionally, Section 4(3) mandates that any financial assistance granted must be used for the intended purpose of establishing and equipping science laboratories for secondary education.
The Act imposes several obligations on the parties it governs. The Minister, who is responsible for authorising payments, must ensure that the payments are made in accordance with the conditions set out in the Act, particularly the limits and purposes specified (Section 4(2) and 4(3)). States receiving the grants must comply with the conditions that the funds are applied for the intended purpose of science laboratory and equipment in secondary schools, as approved by the Minister (Section 4(3)). The Act also stipulates that payments are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, ensuring that the necessary financial resources are appropriated for this purpose (Section 5).
The Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, by mandating that payments are subject to specific conditions and purposes, any misuse of funds or failure to adhere to the specified limits and purposes could potentially lead to administrative actions, recovery of funds, or other consequences as may be determined by the Minister or relevant authorities. Given the nature of the Act, the primary enforcement mechanism would likely be through administrative oversight and compliance checks rather than through specific criminal or civil penalties.