Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1942-43

Overview

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1942-43 was enacted in 1944 to provide an additional appropriation for the financial year ending June 1943, specifically for additions, new works, buildings, and other related services. This Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia to address the financial requirements that were not covered by the original appropriation act for that fiscal year. The policy objective, as implied by the allocation of funds, was to support essential infrastructure and services, particularly in the context of wartime needs and post-war recovery efforts. The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1942-43 appropriated a total sum of £413,872 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which was intended for various government departments and business undertakings. The funds were allocated to support a range of activities including the construction and maintenance of government buildings, the acquisition of equipment for diplomatic missions, and the expansion of essential services like telephone, telegraph, and broadcasting. This Act was intended to ensure that these critical services and infrastructure projects could proceed without interruption, thereby supporting the broader objectives of the Commonwealth during a period of significant national and international upheaval.

Scope and Application

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1942-43 applies to the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ended 30 June 1943, specifically for the purposes of additions, new works, and buildings. The Act allocates £413,872 for these purposes, with £7,256 allocated to departments and services other than business undertakings and territories of the Commonwealth, and the remaining £406,616 allocated to business undertakings. This includes specific allocations for the Parliament, the Department of External Affairs, and the Department of the Treasury, as well as for the Postmaster-General’s Department. The Act does not specify any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, nor does it extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Supplementary Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1942-43 (section 1) is an Act that appropriates a sum of money for the financial year ending 30 June 1943 for the purposes of additions, new works, buildings, etc. Under section 2, the sum of £413,872 is appropriated from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the services expressed in the Schedule to this Act. The Schedule divides the appropriation between two parts: Part I for departments and services other than business undertakings and territories of the Commonwealth, and Part II for business undertakings. The Act imposes obligations on the relevant departments and entities to use the appropriated funds strictly for the purposes specified in the Schedule. For example, under Part I, the Department of External Affairs is obligated to use the funds for the Australian Minister in the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, while the Postmaster-General’s Department is obligated to use the funds for telephone exchange services, telegraph and miscellaneous services, and the national broadcasting service. Breaches of the obligations imposed by the Act may lead to civil or criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state the penalties for breaches, it is implied that failure to comply with the appropriation requirements could result in legal action. The precise nature and extent of the penalties would depend on the specific circumstances of the breach and any relevant common law or statutory provisions. It is also possible that the breach of such an appropriation Act could lead to administrative penalties or disciplinary action against public servants involved in the mismanagement of funds.