Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1935-36

Overview

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1935–36 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to address the need for additional funds to be allocated for various works and buildings across different departments and services for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1936. This Act, assented to on 3 July 1937, was introduced to provide for the appropriation of a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, allowing for the continuation and completion of various works and building projects. The policy objective, as inferred from the allocation of funds, is to support infrastructure development and maintenance across the Commonwealth, ensuring that essential services and facilities are adequately funded and operational.

Scope and Application

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1935–36 applies to the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ended 30 June 1936. The funds are allocated for the purposes of additions, new works, and buildings, as specified in the schedule to the Act. The Act provides for the appropriation of £190,831, which is to be distributed across various departments and services of the Commonwealth government, business undertakings, and territories. This includes the Prime Minister’s Department, the Department of the Interior, the Department of Defence Military, and the Department of Commerce, among others. The Act also allocates funds for business undertakings such as the Commonwealth Railways and the Postmaster-General’s Department, as well as for the Federal Capital Territory. The geographic reach of this Act is national, applying to all entities and departments within the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within its text.

Key Provisions

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1935–36 (sections 1 and 2) provides for the appropriation of £190,831 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1936, intended for the purposes outlined in the attached schedule. This appropriation is to be considered as having been made from the date of the passing of Act No. 37 of 1935. The schedule details the allocation of funds across various departments and services, business undertakings, and territories of the Commonwealth. Specifically, the fund allocation includes £11,953 for departments and services other than business undertakings and Commonwealth territories, £165,809 for business undertakings, and £13,069 for the territories of the Commonwealth. The Act imposes several obligations on the entities it governs. For instance, the Prime Minister's Department and the Department of the Interior must ensure that the funds allocated to them are used strictly for the purposes specified in the schedule, such as the acquisition of property for the Animal Health Field Station and miscellaneous works and services. Similarly, the Department of Defence must use its allocated funds for defence works, including fortifications and engineering works, which are to be credited to the Trust Fund, Defence Reserve Account. The Postmaster-General’s Department, in conjunction with the Department of the Interior, must utilise the funds for telephone exchange services and the laying of telephone cables between the mainland and Tasmania. Breaches of the obligations imposed by the Act can result in civil or criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state penalties for non-compliance, general legislative principles would apply, and penalties could be pursued under other relevant Acts or common law. For instance, misuse of public funds could be considered an offence under the Criminal Code Act 1995, potentially resulting in substantial fines or imprisonment. Additionally, officers responsible for the administration of these funds could face disciplinary action or legal proceedings for mismanagement or misappropriation.