Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937-38

Overview

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937-38 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to provide a further appropriation from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1938. This Act was necessary to address the additional financial requirements for works and buildings across various government departments and services, as well as business undertakings and territories of the Commonwealth. The overall sum appropriated was £394,902, which was allocated across different categories, including departments and services other than business undertakings and territories of the Commonwealth, business undertakings, and territories of the Commonwealth. The purpose of this Act was to ensure that these additional funds were legally appropriated and could be utilised for the specified purposes as outlined in the schedule.

Scope and Application

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937–38 applies to the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year 1937–38, specifically for the purposes of additions, new works, buildings, and other related expenses across various Commonwealth departments, services, business undertakings, and territories. This Act is applicable to the Commonwealth of Australia, including its departments and services, business undertakings such as Commonwealth Railways and the Postmaster-General’s Department, and the territories of the Australian Capital Territory. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within its text. However, the appropriation and allocation of funds are detailed in the Schedule, which outlines the specific amounts appropriated for different divisions and services. The Act does not extend its application through subordinate instruments but rather specifies the appropriation directly within its provisions.

Key Provisions

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937–38 (section 1) aims to appropriate an additional sum of £394,902 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1938 for various works and buildings. This allocation is specified in a detailed schedule, which outlines the distribution of funds among different departments, services, business undertakings, and territories (section 2). The allocation is divided into three parts, with Part I covering departments and services other than business undertakings and territories of the Commonwealth, Part II detailing business undertakings, and Part III addressing the territories of the Commonwealth. The specific allocations within each part are itemised in the schedule, showing detailed expenditure on various projects such as buildings, works, sites, fittings, and furniture, as well as grants and subscriptions. The Act imposes obligations on the respective departments and entities to utilise the appropriated funds strictly for the purposes specified in the schedule. Each department and service must ensure that the funds are spent in accordance with the allocated amounts and descriptions. For example, the Department of the Interior is responsible for expenditures under the River Murray Waters Act 1915–1934, while the Department of Defence must account for its expenditures on naval construction and grants to councils for country aerodromes. The Postmaster-General's Department is required to allocate funds for telephone exchange services, telegraph and miscellaneous services, and a subscription to share capital for Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Limited. The Australian Capital Territory must use its allocated funds for forestry and loans for housing. The Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breaches of its provisions. However, general legislative principles imply that misuse of appropriated funds could lead to legal repercussions, including potential civil penalties or criminal charges depending on the severity of the breach. Non-compliance with the specified allocation of funds might result in accountability measures under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 or other relevant legislation.