Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1930-31

Overview

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1930–31 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for additional funds for public works and buildings during the financial year ending 30 June 1931. The Act was assented to on 28 May 1932 and it provides for the appropriation of £4,691 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specified works, including the construction of buildings for the Department of Defence and additions and alterations to buildings and engineering services for the Department of Transport. Additionally, the Act includes the purchase of machinery for the Government Printing Office in the Federal Capital Territory. The policy objective of this Act was to ensure that essential public infrastructure projects could proceed without interruption, despite financial constraints of the time.

Scope and Application

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1930-31 is a Commonwealth Act that serves to allocate additional funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial year ending on 30 June 1931. The primary purpose of this Act is to facilitate the appropriation of £4,691 for specified purposes, including the construction and alteration of buildings and the provision of engineering services, as outlined in the Act's schedule. This appropriation is designated for various departments and services, notably excluding business undertakings and the territories of the Commonwealth, with the exception of the Federal Capital Territory. The Act's jurisdictional reach is confined to the Commonwealth of Australia, and it does not extend to state or territory governments. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but the appropriation is specifically allocated to particular projects as detailed in the schedule. Any further application or interpretation of the Act may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, although such provisions are not detailed within the primary Act itself.

Key Provisions

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1930–31 (section 1) serves to allocate an additional sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30th June 1931. This sum of Four thousand six hundred and ninety-one pounds is designated for various construction and engineering projects, as outlined in the Act's Schedule (section 2). These projects include the construction of buildings for the Department of Defence, specifically at the Army Service School in Victoria Barracks, Melbourne (Schedule, Part I, Division No. 2a, Subdivision No. 1, No. 1), and additions and alterations to buildings and engineering services for the Department of Transport (Schedule, Part I, Division No. 6a, Subdivision No. 1, No. 1). Additionally, the Act allocates funds for the purchase of machinery for the Government Printing Office in Canberra, under the Federal Capital Territory (Schedule, Part III, Division No. 9, Subdivision No. 1, No. 1). Under the Act, the Department of Defence and the Department of Transport are required to use the allocated funds strictly for the specified purposes: construction of buildings and engineering services, respectively. The Federal Capital Territory must use its allocated funds for the purchase of machinery for the Government Printing Office. These appropriations are to be managed in accordance with the provisions of the Act and the relevant departments' administrative procedures. Any deviations from the specified uses of funds would be subject to review and could potentially lead to financial and administrative repercussions. Breaches of the Act's provisions, such as misallocation of funds or unauthorised use of the appropriated sum, could potentially lead to financial penalties or legal consequences. Although the Act itself does not explicitly detail penalties for breaches, it is subject to the general legal and financial oversight mechanisms applicable to public funds in Australia. Therefore, any misuse of the funds could result in accountability measures under the Public Service Act 1922, the Crimes Act 1914, or other relevant legislation, which could include fines or other sanctions as determined by the appropriate legal authorities.