Supply Act (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1914-15

Overview

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1914–15 Act was enacted by the Parliament of the Commonwealth of Australia to allocate a sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1915 towards various additions, new works, and buildings across different government departments. This Act addresses the need for a structured financial provision to support infrastructure and operational enhancements in the early years of the Commonwealth. The primary objective of the Act, as stated in the text, is to provide funding for essential works and constructions to ensure the efficient functioning of government services. The Act authorises the issuance and application of £366,150 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund, specifying that the funds will be allocated to the departments detailed in the Schedule. This allocation includes expenditures for the Department of Home Affairs, the Postmaster-General’s Department, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Defence, the Department of External Affairs, and the Department of Trade and Customs. The funds are to be used strictly for the purposes outlined in the Schedule, with a clear stipulation that no expenditure can occur beyond 30 June 1915.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1914-15 Act is a Commonwealth statute that authorises the appropriation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending on 30th June 1915. The funds are intended for various works and buildings across several government departments, including the Department of Home Affairs, the Postmaster-General's Department, the Department of Defence, the Department of External Affairs, and the Department of Trade and Customs. The Act outlines specific allocations for each department, which are detailed in the attached schedule. The Act explicitly states that no funds can be expended beyond the 30th of June 1915, thereby setting a clear temporal limit on its application. The geographic scope of this Act is national, impacting multiple states and territories across Australia as it pertains to various government departments and their respective projects. The Act does not explicitly mention any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, and there is no indication that its application is extended or restricted through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Supply Act (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1914–15 authorises the issuance and application of a sum of £366,150 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1915. This funding is intended for various purposes and services detailed in the Schedule to the Act, such as additions, new works, and buildings under the control of several departments including Home Affairs, the Postmaster-General's Department, Defence, External Affairs, and Trade and Customs. The Act explicitly authorises the Treasurer to issue and apply these funds. The Act imposes several obligations on the departments that receive funding. Each department must ensure that the allocated funds are used strictly for the purposes and services outlined in the Schedule. Additionally, the Act mandates that no funds should be expended after the specified period of 30 June 1915, thereby limiting the period for which the allocated funds can be used. This ensures that the expenditure is controlled and directed towards the intended objectives within the specified timeframe. The Act does not explicitly state any offences or penalties for breaches of its provisions. However, it is understood that failure to comply with the Act’s directives could result in legal consequences, such as the misapplication of public funds, which is a serious offence under Australian law. The penalties for such offences can include fines and imprisonment, depending on the severity of the breach. While the Act itself does not detail maximum penalties, the general legal framework governing public expenditure and financial management would apply.