Supply Act (No. 4) 1992-93

Overview

The Supply Act (No. 4) 1992-93 was enacted in 1992 by the Parliament of Australia to provide interim funding for specific expenditures for the financial year ending on 30 June 1993, supplementing the appropriations made by the Supply Act (No. 2) 1992-93. This legislation ensures that the government can continue to meet its financial obligations without interruption, addressing the need for additional funding to support ongoing programs and services. The Act authorises the Minister for Finance to issue funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund and applies this money to specified services, ensuring that essential government operations can continue smoothly. The primary policy objective of this Act is to facilitate the uninterrupted provision of government services by ensuring that necessary funds are available for the remainder of the financial year. This is achieved by authorising the Minister for Finance to allocate and apply funds for the specified purposes outlined in the Act, including support for programs administered by various departments such as the Department of Employment, Education and Training, and the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs. Additionally, the Act ensures that payments to states are made in accordance with the Treasurer's determinations, thereby maintaining fiscal discipline and oversight in the allocation of public funds.

Scope and Application

The Supply Act (No. 4) 1992-93 applies to the appropriation of funds out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specific services and purposes related to the year ending on 30 June 1993. The Act authorises the Minister for Finance to issue and apply $105,000,000 for the services detailed in Schedule 2, specifically allocated to the Department of Employment, Education and Training, the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, and the Department of the Treasury. The funds are intended for particular programs, such as the Landcare and environment action program, grants to local councils for social and economic infrastructure, and general purpose capital assistance to states and territories. The Act’s jurisdictional reach is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and extends to payments to states, territories, local government bodies, organisations, and individuals as determined by the Treasurer. However, the Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds. The Act may be further defined or extended through subordinate instruments issued by the relevant authorities.

Key Provisions

The Supply Act (No. 4) 1992-93 primarily enables the Minister for Finance to issue and apply funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specific purposes during the financial year ending on 30 June 1993. Section 3(1) allows the Minister to issue up to $105,000,000 for services listed in Schedule 2. The Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated as necessary to meet these requirements, as stated in Section 3(2). The Act provides detailed allocations to various departments, including $10,000,000 for the Department of Employment, Education and Training, $70,000,000 for the Department of Immigration, Local Government and Ethnic Affairs, and $25,000,000 for the Department of the Treasury. The Act imposes specific obligations on the Minister for Finance and the Treasurer. Section 4 outlines that payments to states must be made in accordance with the Treasurer's determinations regarding amounts and timing. The Act also stipulates that money appropriated for a particular program is to be used for payments under related Acts and for any other purposes of the program, as detailed in Section 5. Additionally, Section 3(3) empowers the Commonwealth to make payments to territories, local governments, corporations, organisations, or individuals for any purposes under Appropriation Acts, subject to terms, conditions, amounts, and times determined by the Commonwealth. The Act does not explicitly list offences, penalties, or consequences for breaches. However, breaches of appropriation laws generally may lead to civil or criminal liability depending on the nature and intent of the breach. The Minister for Finance or the Treasurer may face legal actions if they fail to comply with the requirements of the Act, potentially resulting in penalties under related legislation. For example, mismanagement of public funds could lead to criminal charges under the Criminal Code Act 1995 or civil actions for breach of statutory duty. The specific penalties would depend on the severity and context of the breach.