Supply and Development Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1951, No. 139, made under the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948, were introduced to amend the Supply and Development Regulations, aiming to update certain aspects of the administration of contracts related to supply and development activities. Enacted by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, these regulations sought to address specific issues within the existing framework by modifying the financial threshold for certain contracts and altering the approval process for contract board members. This legislative instrument was designed to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of the supply and development processes by streamlining the approval mechanisms and increasing the monetary limit for specific contract approvals.

Scope and Application

The Supply and Development Regulations, 1951, amend the existing provisions under the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948, affecting the functions and operations of the Contract Board within the Commonwealth. This legislation applies to the members and authorised officers of the Contract Board, which is responsible for overseeing and approving contracts related to the supply and development activities mandated by the Act. The updated regulations adjust the monetary threshold for certain contract approvals and redefine the roles and authorisations of the Contract Board members, thereby impacting the process and authority involved in contract administration. The geographic scope of these regulations is national, as they pertain to the Commonwealth of Australia and are applicable across all states and territories under federal jurisdiction. No specific exclusions or exemptions are mentioned in the text, and it does not indicate any extension or restriction of application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The key operative sections of these Regulations concern amendments to the Supply and Development Regulations under the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948. Regulation 33 is amended to increase the financial threshold from Ten thousand pounds to Twenty thousand pounds (Section 1). Additionally, Regulation 34 is revised to specify the individuals who can approve contracts, namely the Chairman of the Contract Board, the Deputy Chairman in the absence of the former, or an officer or employee of the Commonwealth authorised by the Minister (Section 2). The obligations and requirements imposed by these Regulations mandate that any contract exceeding the newly stipulated Twenty thousand pounds threshold must be approved by the Chairman of the Contract Board, or the Deputy Chairman if the former is unavailable. Furthermore, the Minister has the authority to approve contracts by an authorised officer or employee of the Commonwealth. This authorisation must be documented in writing and signed by each member of the Contract Board, ensuring that all parties involved in the contract approval process are clearly identified and accountable. In terms of legal consequences, any breach of these Regulations could potentially lead to legal actions being taken against the individuals or entities involved. While the specific offences, penalties, or civil and criminal consequences are not detailed in the text provided, breaches of statutory regulations generally may result in fines, legal penalties, or other enforcement actions as deemed appropriate by the relevant authorities. The maximum penalties for such breaches would be determined by the specific provisions of the Supply and Development Act 1939-1948 and any related legislation.