Supply Act (Works and Buildings) (No. 3) 1915-16

Overview

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 3) 1915–16 Act, enacted in 1915, was introduced to address the need for appropriations to fund additions, new works, and buildings for various government departments for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1916. The Act was passed by the Parliament of Australia to allocate funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for specified purposes outlined in the attached Schedule. The policy objective of this Act was to ensure that the necessary financial resources were available to support the operational and infrastructural needs of the government during that period, facilitating the execution of public works and the maintenance of government buildings. This legislation authorised the issuance and application of £647,696 for the service of the specified year, with the funds to be allocated across different departments including Home Affairs, Postmaster-General’s Department, Treasury, Defence, External Affairs, and Trade and Customs, as detailed in the Schedule. The Act also stipulated that no funds could be expended after the stipulated financial year end. The enacting body was the Parliament of Australia, with the Act receiving royal assent on 15 November 1915.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 3) 1915-16 Act pertains to the allocation of funds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1916 to support additions, new works, and buildings across various government departments. This Act applies to several departments including 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 earmarked for specific projects in each department as outlined in the schedule of the Act, such as building projects in New South Wales and Victoria, telegraph and telephone works, naval and military construction, and lighthouses among others. The Act also specifies that the expenditure of these funds is restricted to the purposes and services set forth in the schedule and prohibits any expenditure beyond 30 June 1916. The Act does not explicitly state exclusions or exemptions but implies that the allocation of funds is strictly bound to the stated purposes.

Key Provisions

The Supply (Works and Buildings) (No. 3) 1915–16 Act (section 1) allocates a specific sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the fiscal year ending 30 June 1916, intended for additions, new works, and buildings. This Act, as detailed in section 2, authorizes the issuance and application of £647,696 for purposes outlined in the Schedule, which includes allocations for various departments such as Home Affairs, Defence, and Trade and Customs. Section 3 specifies that this sum will be available to satisfy warrants issued by the Governor-General for the listed purposes. Section 4 stipulates that no moneys can be expended under the authority of this Act after the end of the fiscal year. The Act imposes obligations on several departments to utilize the allocated funds for specific projects and services, as detailed in the Schedule. Each department has a designated amount to be used for their respective purposes, such as the Department of Home Affairs being allocated £268,246 for various works, including quarantine and customs, or the Department of Defence receiving £289,000 for naval and military works. The Postmaster-General’s Department is assigned £85,100 for telegraphs and telephones. These allocations must be adhered to strictly, and the funds must be spent within the fiscal year as stipulated. Failure to comply with the terms of this Act could lead to legal repercussions. While the Act does not explicitly outline specific penalties for non-compliance, any unauthorized use or expenditure of the allocated funds could be subject to scrutiny and potential legal action under other relevant legislation or administrative guidelines. The Act emphasizes the importance of adhering to the prescribed use of funds and the timeframe for expenditure, highlighting the need for proper financial oversight and accountability.