States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1973

Overview

The States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1973 was enacted by the Australian Parliament to address the need for financial assistance to specific states, namely Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. The legislation was designed to provide economic support to these states for the year commencing on 1 July 1973, as outlined in the Act. The policy objective was to ensure that these states received the necessary funding to address their financial needs and support their development. The Act was assented to on 18 December 1973, and it came into operation on the same day, with payments to be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The Act also allowed for the possibility of further payments to these states during the period of six months commencing on 1 July 1974, subject to certain conditions.

Scope and Application

The States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1973 provides financial assistance to the States of Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. The Act applies specifically to these three states, providing them with specific sums of financial assistance for the year commencing on 1 July 1973. The Act's geographic reach is confined to the Commonwealth of Australia, applying to the specified states within the nation's federal structure. The Act includes detailed provisions for the amounts of financial assistance payable to each state, with any prior payments under the States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1972 deducted from these sums. Additionally, the Act allows the Treasurer to make supplementary payments to these states during the six months commencing on 1 July 1974, up to half of the initial specified amounts. Payments under this Act are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, with the necessary appropriation specified within the Act itself. The Act does not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds beyond the specified conditions and limitations outlined within its provisions.

Key Provisions

The States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1973 primarily provides financial assistance to the States of Queensland, South Australia, and Tasmania. According to section 3(1), the Act mandates that specific sums be paid to these states: Ten million dollars to Queensland, Nineteen million nine hundred thousand dollars to South Australia, and Eight million six hundred and fifty thousand dollars to Tasmania. This financial assistance is intended to be disbursed during the year that commenced on 1 July 1973. Notably, if any amounts were paid to these states under section 4 of the States Grants (Special Assistance) Act 1972, these sums are to be deducted from the amounts specified in section 3(1). The Treasurer has the authority to determine the specific amounts and timing of these payments, as outlined in section 3(3). The Act imposes specific obligations on the Treasurer, who is responsible for making the payments as outlined in the Act. The Treasurer must ensure that the financial assistance is disbursed to the respective states within the specified period and in the amounts determined. This includes considering any previous payments made under the 1972 Act as stated in section 3(2). Additionally, the Act mandates that the payments be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as specified in section 5. This means that the financial resources required for these payments must be appropriated from the government's revenue fund. The Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance with its provisions. However, non-compliance with the financial and payment obligations outlined in the Act could potentially lead to legal and administrative repercussions. For instance, failure to appropriate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund or to make payments as specified could result in legal challenges or administrative penalties. While the Act itself does not detail specific penalties, breaches of statutory obligations in such contexts could attract various consequences under general administrative and financial laws.