Supply Act (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1916-17

Overview

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) Act 1916–17 was enacted to address the need for a financial allocation for additions, new works, and buildings across various federal departments and services for the fiscal year ending on June 30, 1917. This Act was assented to on September 30, 1916, by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective of this legislation was to appropriate a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the aforementioned purposes, as detailed in the Schedule to the Act. The Act authorises the Treasurer to issue and apply the authorised funds, ensuring that the expenditure is strictly limited to the fiscal year in question, with no further expenditures allowed beyond June 30, 1917. The allocations under this Act are meticulously distributed among various government departments, including the Department of Home Affairs, the Postmaster-General’s Department, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Defence, the Department of the Navy, the Department of External Affairs, and the Department of Trade and Customs. Each department's allocation is intended to cover a range of activities, from construction projects and the establishment of new works to the maintenance and development of existing infrastructure, ensuring that the necessary resources are available to support the Commonwealth's objectives for that fiscal year.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1916–17 Act is an Australian Commonwealth Act that authorises the appropriation of £918,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1917. This sum is designated for various works and buildings related to different government departments, as detailed in the Schedule of the Act. The Act applies to the financial resources of the Commonwealth and specifies that the funds shall be used for purposes and services outlined in the attached Schedule, under the authority of the Governor-General. The Act explicitly restricts the expenditure of these funds to activities occurring before 30 June 1917. The allocation of funds covers a range of government departments including, but not limited to, the Department of Home Affairs, the Postmaster-General’s Department, the Department of the Treasury, the Department of Defence, the Department of the Navy, the Department of External Affairs, and the Department of Trade and Customs. Each of these departments has specific allocations for various projects, such as additions, new works, buildings, and other related services across different states and territories. The Act does not include any explicit exclusions or exemptions, but the application of these funds is strictly governed by the allocations and purposes outlined in the Schedule.

Key Provisions

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 2) 1916–17 Act (sections 1 to 4) establishes the allocation of a specific sum for particular works and buildings, specifying the total amount and the allocation to various government departments, including Home Affairs, Postmaster-General's Department, Treasury, Defence, Navy, External Affairs, and Trade and Customs. The Act outlines that the sum of Nine hundred and eighteen thousand pounds (section 2) is to be issued and applied for the purposes detailed in the Schedule, with the Treasurer empowered to do so (section 3). It also stipulates that no expenditure under this Act is permitted beyond the thirtieth day of June 1917 (section 4). The Act imposes clear obligations on the relevant departments to use the allocated funds strictly for the purposes specified in the Schedule. Each department is tasked with managing its allocated funds to carry out the specified works and buildings. This includes the Department of Home Affairs, which must use its funds for various projects across different states and territories, the Postmaster-General's Department for telegraphs and telephones, the Treasury for government printing and stamp printing, the Department of Defence for military-related works, the Department of the Navy for naval works and vessel construction, the Department of External Affairs for projects in the Northern Territory and the Port Augusta Railway, and the Department of Trade and Customs for lighthouses. Failure to adhere to the specified uses of the funds or to complete the allocated projects by the stipulated deadline may result in various consequences. While the Act does not explicitly detail penalties for non-compliance, breaches of the terms under which the funds are granted could potentially lead to legal scrutiny and financial repercussions. Additionally, any misuse of the funds or failure to complete the authorised projects within the prescribed timeframe might result in the need for further appropriations, which could lead to financial oversight and potential audits by relevant government bodies.