States Grants (Technical Training)
No. 41 of 1965
An Act to grant Financial Assistance to the States for Buildings and Equipment for use in Technical Training in State 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 (Technical Training) Act 1965.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definitions.
3. In this Act—
“State school” means a school, or a similar institution, that is conducted by a State, and includes an institution the name of which is specified in the First Schedule to this Act;
“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 technical training.
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 Second 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 buildings and equipment for use in the training in State schools of persons for employment in trades and technical occupations.
Appropriation.
5. Payments under this Act shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.
THE SCHEDULE
—
FIRST SCHEDULES Section 3.
Names of Institutions
Victoria—
Bendigo Technical College
Prahran Technical School
Royal Melbourne Institute of Technology
The Gordon Institute of Technology
The School of Mines and Industries, Ballarat
The Swinburne Technical College
South Australia—
South Australian Institute of Technology
SECOND SCHEDULE Section 4 (2.)
Limit of Grants |
| £ |
New South Wales.................... | 5,616,000 |
Victoria........................... | 4,238,700 |
Queensland........................ | 2,172.600 |
South Australia...................... | 1,399,800 |
Western Australia.................... | 1,071,600 |
Tasmania.......................... | 501,300 |
| 15,000,000 |
Overview
The States Grants (Technical Training) Act 1965 was enacted to address a gap in technical training infrastructure and funding within state schools across Australia. The Commonwealth sought to provide financial assistance to the states to enhance technical education facilities and equipment, thereby improving the capacity of state schools to train students for trades and technical occupations. This Act was enacted by the Queen, in accordance with the authority of the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia. The policy objective of the Act is to support the states in providing adequate technical training facilities, as evidenced by the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for this purpose. By setting specific limits on the total grants that could be allocated to each state, the Act ensures that the financial assistance is both structured and equitable, aiming to foster a skilled workforce across the nation.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Technical Training) Act 1965 applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, providing financial assistance to states for the purpose of technical training in state schools. The act authorises the Minister to pay grants to each state, subject to certain conditions and limits specified within the Act. These payments are intended to be applied towards buildings and equipment used in the training of students for trades and technical occupations in state schools. The act defines "State school" to include specified institutions listed in the First Schedule, such as the Bendigo Technical College and the South Australian Institute of Technology. The financial assistance is limited in total amount for each state, as outlined in the Second Schedule, with specific thresholds for payments authorised before certain dates in 1966 and 1967. Payments are to be made from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as appropriated. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions other than the prescribed limits on the amount of the grants. The Act's provisions may be extended or modified through subordinate instruments, though no such provisions are detailed in the primary Act itself.
Key Provisions
The primary operative sections of the States Grants (Technical Training) Act 1965, in particular Section 4, allow the Minister to authorize financial assistance to states for technical training in state schools during the specified period, which runs from 1 July 1965 to 30 June 1968. This financial assistance is subject to a cap, as outlined in Section 4(2), with payments not exceeding the total amounts specified in the Second Schedule for each state, and with additional constraints on payments made before 30 June 1966 and 30 June 1967, ensuring that the payments do not exceed one-third and two-thirds of the total amount, respectively. Furthermore, the Act mandates in Section 4(3) that these payments must be utilized for the construction of buildings and the procurement of equipment specifically for technical training in state schools, as approved by the Minister.
The Act imposes certain obligations on the parties it governs. Primarily, the Minister must ensure that the financial assistance provided to the states is used in accordance with the Act's provisions. This includes verifying that the funds are applied to the construction of buildings and the purchase of equipment for technical training in state schools, as stipulated in Section 4(3). Additionally, the Minister must adhere to the financial constraints outlined in Section 4(2), ensuring that payments do not exceed the specified limits for each state, and that the stipulated milestones for payments are not surpassed.
Violations of the provisions of this Act may lead to various consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail specific offences or penalties, the failure to comply with the conditions set out for the use of funds or the unauthorized exceeding of the specified financial limits could potentially be subject to legal scrutiny. Such non-compliance might be addressed through administrative or legal actions, although the precise penalties or consequences would need to be determined within the broader legal framework governing financial assistance and state funding. The Act does, however, mandate the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, as outlined in Section 5, ensuring that the financial assistance is sourced appropriately.