States Grants (Secondary Schools Libraries) Act 1968

Legislation au C1968A00125 Not in force Act

Legislation content

States Grants (Secondary Schools Libraries)

No. 125 of 1968

An Act to grant Financial Assistance to the States for Libraries at Secondary Schools and for the acquisition of Library Material and Equipment for use in such Libraries.

[Assented to 3 December 1968]

BE it enacted by the Queens 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 (Secondary Schools Libraries) Act 1968.

Commencement.

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

Definitions.

3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—

building includes a part of a building;

library means a building for the accommodation and use of books and other library material;

library material includes books, periodicals, newspapers, films, sound recordings, musical scores, maps, plans, pictures, photographs and prints;


secondary school means a school or similar institution, whether conducted by a State or not, at which some or all of the students who attend the school are taught at a secondary level of education;

the period to which this Act applies means the period commencing on the first day of January, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine, and ending on the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and seventy-one.

Grants for libraries and for library material 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 subsection, 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 thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-nine—exceed, in the aggregate, one-third of that amount; or

(c) in the case of payments authorized on or before the thirty-first day of December, One thousand nine hundred and seventy—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 libraries at secondary schools and for the acquisition of library material and equipment for use in such libraries.

Annual statement by Minister.

5. The Minister shall cause a statement to be laid before each House of the Parliament as soon as practicable after the end of each year during the period to which this Act applies describing the arrangements in accordance with which payments under this Act have been authorized in that year and stating, in respect of each State—

(a) in relation to secondary schools not being secondary schools conducted by the State—

(i) the total amount paid to the State under this Act in that year; and

(ii) the names of the secondary schools in respect of which approvals for the application of moneys included in that amount have been given, and the amount approved for expenditure in respect of each such school; and

(b) in relation to secondary schools conducted by the State—

(i) the total amount paid to the State under this Act in that year; and


(ii) the names of the secondary schools in respect of which the State has, during that year, applied amounts paid to the State under this Act.

Appropriation.

6. 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.......................

9,984,000

Victoria..............................

7,590,600

Queensland............................

3,944,700

South Australia.........................

2,576,400

Western Australia.......................

2,031,600

Tasmania.............................

872,700

 

27,000,000

 

 

Overview

The States Grants (Secondary Schools Libraries) Act 1968 was enacted to address the need for financial assistance to the states for the establishment and maintenance of libraries in secondary schools, as well as for the acquisition of library material and equipment to be used in such libraries. The Act was passed by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The policy objective of the Act is to improve educational resources available to secondary school students by ensuring that they have access to well-equipped and maintained libraries, thereby enhancing their learning experience and outcomes. The Minister is empowered to make payments to the states within specified limits, subject to conditions that the funds are used for the authorised purposes. Furthermore, the Act mandates the Minister to submit an annual report to Parliament detailing the arrangements for payments and the use of funds by each state.

Scope and Application

The States Grants (Secondary Schools Libraries) Act 1968 applies to the Australian states of New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. It provides financial assistance from the Commonwealth to these states to support the development and enhancement of libraries in secondary schools within their jurisdictions. This assistance is intended for the construction of libraries, the acquisition of library materials, and the purchase of library equipment to be used in these educational institutions. The Act sets specific limits on the total amount of grants each state can receive over the period from 1 January 1969 to 31 December 1971, with phased increases allowed by 31 December 1969 and 31 December 1970. The Minister is responsible for determining the amounts granted to each state, subject to these limits, and ensuring that the funds are used for their intended purposes. The Act also requires the Minister to report annually to Parliament on the distribution and use of these grants. The financial support provided under this Act is disbursed from the Consolidated Revenue Fund.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the States Grants (Secondary Schools Libraries) Act 1968 (section 4) provide for the Minister's authority to issue grants to states for libraries at secondary schools and the acquisition of library material and equipment. Under this Act, the Minister may authorize payments to states for these purposes during a specified period, which runs from January 1, 1969, to December 31, 1971 (section 4(1)). These payments must not exceed certain aggregate limits for each state, as specified in the Schedule (section 4(2)(a)), with an additional restriction that no more than one-third of the total amount may be paid by December 31, 1969, and two-thirds by December 31, 1970 (sections 4(2)(b) and (c)). The payments are contingent on the state's application of the funds for the approved purposes (section 4(3)). The Minister is also required to lay an annual statement before each House of Parliament detailing the payments made, the amounts allocated to each state, and the specific secondary schools benefiting from the grants (section 5). The Act imposes several obligations on the Minister and the states. The Minister must ensure that the grants do not exceed the specified limits (section 4(2)) and must report annually to Parliament on the allocation and use of funds (section 5). States receiving grants must use the funds for the approved purposes, as confirmed by the Minister (section 4(3)). Additionally, states must provide the necessary information to the Minister regarding the application of funds for the annual statement (section 5). Breaches of the Act’s provisions, such as exceeding the specified limits for grants or misapplying funds, may lead to civil or criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for these breaches, general legal principles and potential consequences under other legislative frameworks may apply. The seriousness of the breach, the intent behind it, and the impact on the intended purpose of the Act would be considered in determining any penalties. The Act's appropriation clause (section 6) ensures that funds are drawn from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which further underscores the importance of compliance with the Act's financial and procedural requirements.

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Area of Law
Education Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Appropriation

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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.