Supply Act (No. 1) 1904-5

Overview

The Supply Act (No. 1) 1904–5 was enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia to address the need for the appropriation of funds for the fiscal year ending on 30 June 1905. This Act was necessitated by the requirement to allocate a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of that year. The enacting body was the Australian Parliament, and the policy objective was to ensure that the specified amount of £120,000 was made available to the Treasurer for issuing and applying to public officers and meeting various expenditures detailed in the Schedule attached to the Act. The Act authorises the Treasurer to disburse this amount in accordance with the appropriations set forth in the Schedule, and it stipulates that no expenditures should be made beyond the specified fiscal year-end date.

Scope and Application

The Supply Act (No. 1) 1904-5 applies to the allocation and application of £120,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial year ending 30 June 1905. This Act authorises the Treasurer to issue and apply the specified sum to meet the supply requirements of the Commonwealth for the relevant period, with the amount being available to satisfy warrants under the Governor-General's hand for the purposes and services outlined in the attached Schedule. Notably, the Act strictly limits the period during which these funds can be expended, prohibiting any expenditure after 30 June 1905. The jurisdictional reach of this Act is national, as it pertains to the Commonwealth of Australia and is enacted by the King's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds within the text of this Act, and it does not extend or restrict application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Supply Act (No. 1) 1904–5 are concise and straightforward. Section 1 establishes the title of the Act, clarifying that it pertains to the appropriation of a specific financial grant for a fiscal year. Section 2 authorises the issuance and application of a specified sum, £120,000, from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1905, with the Treasurer empowered to manage these funds. Section 3 confirms the availability of this sum to cover the warrants issued by the Governor-General for specified purposes outlined in the Schedule. Lastly, Section 4 stipulates that no expenditures can be made under the authority of this Act beyond the fiscal year end date of 30 June 1905. The Act imposes clear obligations on the parties it governs. The Treasurer, as the central authority, is tasked with the responsibility of issuing and applying the granted funds. This responsibility includes ensuring that the funds are used in accordance with the purposes outlined in the Schedule and no later than the specified fiscal year end. The Governor-General, through the issuance of warrants, also plays a critical role in authorising expenditures, ensuring that the moneys are spent for legitimate and pre-defined purposes. Breaches of the Act's provisions could lead to serious consequences. While the Act itself does not explicitly detail offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance, it can be inferred that any misuse of the granted funds or unauthorised expenditures would likely be considered violations. In the context of Australian legislative practice, such breaches could potentially lead to both civil and criminal liabilities, depending on the nature and severity of the offence. Civil consequences might include financial restitution, while criminal penalties could involve fines or imprisonment, though specific maximum penalties would be detailed in related legislation or judicial interpretations.