States Grants (Universities)
No. 125 of 1972
An Act relating to the Grant of Financial Assistance to the States in connexion with Universities.
[Assented to 2 November 1972]
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 and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Universities) Act 1972.
(2.) The States Grants (Universities) Act 1969–1971 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the States Grants (Universities) Act 1969–1972.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Salary rates.
3. Section 4 of the Principal Act is amended—
(a) by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (1.) the words “Fifteen thousand two hundred and sixty-four dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Fifteen thousand three hundred and sixty-eight dollars”;
(b) by omitting from paragraph (b) of sub-section (1.) the words “Twelve thousand five hundred and ninety-three dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Twelve thousand six hundred and ninety-seven dollars”;
(c) by omitting from paragraph (c) of sub-section (1.) the words “Eleven thousand one hundred and thirty dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Eleven thousand two hundred and thirty-four dollars”;
(d) by omitting from paragraph (d) of sub-section (1.) the words “Nine thousand two hundred and eighty-six dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Nine thousand three hundred and ninety dollars”; and
(e) by omitting from paragraph (e) of sub-section (1.) the words “Six thousand six hundred and ninety-seven dollars” and inserting in their stead the words “Six thousand eight hundred and one dollars”.
First Schedule.
4. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part III. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—
Part III.
Grants for Recurrent Expenditure for the Year 1972
First Column | Second Column | Third Column |
University | Fees and State contributions | Maximum financial assistance Under section 3(1.) |
| $ | $ |
New South Wales— | | |
University of Sydney............................ | 18,628,000 | 10,069,000 |
University of New South Wales..................... | 17,332,000 | 9,369,000 |
University of New England........................ | 5,358,000 | 2,896,000 |
University of Newcastle.......................... | 3,678,000 | 1,988,000 |
Macquarie University............................ | 5,635,000 | 3,046,000 |
Victoria— | | |
University of Melbourne.......................... | 15,712,000 | 8,493,000 |
Monash University............................. | 13,548,000 | 7,323,000 |
La Trobe University............................. | 5,020,000 | 2,714,000 |
Queensland— | | |
University of Queensland......................... | 13,856,000 | 7,490,000 |
James Cook University of North Queensland............ | 2,245,000 | 1,214,000 |
Griffith University.............................. | 151,130 | 81,070 |
South Australia— | | |
University of Adelaide........................... | 8,872,000 | 4,795,000 |
Flinders University of South Australia................. | 3,493,000 | 1,888,000 |
Western Australia— | | |
University of Western Australia..................... | 8,586,000 | 4,641,000 |
Tasmania— | | |
University of Tasmania.......................... | 3,913,000 | 2,115,000 |
| 126,027,130 | 68,122,070 |
Overview
The States Grants (Universities) Act 1972 was enacted to provide financial assistance to states in relation to their universities. This Act is an amendment to the States Grants (Universities) Act 1969–1971, extending the period of financial assistance. Enacted by the Parliament of Australia, the Act aims to support the recurrent expenditure of universities in various states, ensuring they receive adequate funding for their operations and to enhance educational standards across the country. The Act adjusts salary rates and specifies the financial assistance for recurrent expenditure for the year 1972, illustrating the commitment to equitable funding across different institutions and states.
Scope and Application
The States Grants (Universities) Act 1972 pertains to the provision of financial assistance to the states in relation to universities. This Act applies to the specified universities within each state, as outlined in the First Schedule, and to the Commonwealth Government which is responsible for the financial assistance under this Act. The geographic reach of this legislation is national, as it involves the federal government providing funding to various state universities across Australia. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but the financial assistance is allocated based on specific criteria and the recurrent expenditure of each university. The application of this Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or guidelines, which may provide further detail on the allocation and use of the grants.
The Act amends the existing States Grants (Universities) Act 1969–1971 by adjusting salary rates and the allocation of grants for recurrent expenditure for the year 1972. The changes are reflected in the updated figures for salary rates and the specific grants listed for each university in the First Schedule. This Act comes into operation on the day it receives the Royal Assent, ensuring that the updated provisions and financial allocations are immediately applicable. The Act’s provisions are focused solely on the financial assistance to universities and do not extend to other areas or entities outside the scope of university funding.
Key Provisions
The main operative sections of the States Grants (Universities) Act 1972 involve amendments to the salary rates for university staff and the provision of financial assistance to universities. Section 3 updates the salary rates specified in the Principal Act, while the First Schedule outlines the grants for recurrent expenditure for the year 1972, detailing the financial assistance to be provided to various universities across different states. These sections require the adjustment of specific dollar amounts to reflect changes in salary rates and the allocation of funds for university recurrent expenditure (Sections 3 and 4).
The Act imposes obligations on the Commonwealth Government to provide financial assistance to the universities listed in the First Schedule. This includes updating the salary rates of university staff and ensuring that the specified grants are disbursed to the relevant universities for their recurrent expenditure. The Act also mandates the amendment of the Principal Act to reflect these changes accurately. These obligations are aimed at supporting the operational costs of universities and ensuring that they receive the necessary funding to maintain their academic and administrative functions (Sections 3 and 4).
Breach of the provisions in the Act could lead to non-compliance with the financial assistance obligations, potentially resulting in legal consequences. However, the Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or specific civil or criminal consequences for breaches. Typically, non-compliance with financial provisions in legislative acts might lead to legal actions for recovery of funds or other remedies as provided under the common law or other relevant legislation. The precise consequences would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, as well as the specific legal framework within which the Act operates (Sections 3 and 4).