Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act 1989-90

Overview

The Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act 1989-90 was enacted by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia to address the need for interim financial provisions for the appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure in relation to the Parliamentary Departments for the financial year ending on 30 June 1990. The Act provides for the appropriation of $46,274,000 and additional sums for increases in salaries for the specified parliamentary departments. The policy objective is to ensure that the parliamentary departments have the necessary funds to operate effectively during the financial year, including the ability to make urgent and unforeseen expenditures. The Minister for Finance is authorised to issue the funds out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, with specific provisions for additional appropriations and advances to the President of the Senate, the Speaker of the House of Representatives, or both, as required.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act 1989-90 is an Australian Commonwealth Act that provides interim provisions for the appropriation of money out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for certain expenditure in relation to the Parliamentary Departments for the financial year ending on 30 June 1990. This Act applies to the appropriation of funds for specific services as detailed in the Schedule, which includes recurrent expenditures for the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Parliamentary Reporting Staff, the Parliamentary Library, and the Joint House Department. The Act also authorises additional appropriations for increases in salaries as determined by the President, the Speaker, or both, in relation to these departments. The Act’s geographic reach is limited to the Commonwealth level, affecting only the operations and finances of the specified parliamentary departments within the federal legislative framework. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the Act, but it does include provisions for advances to cover unforeseen or erroneously omitted expenditures, subject to certain limits as specified in the Schedule. The Act does not extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments but provides clear guidelines for the issuance and application of funds as outlined in its sections and the attached Schedule.

Key Provisions

The Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act 1989-90 (the "Act") provides for the appropriation of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial year ending on 30 June 1990. The Minister for Finance is authorised to issue and apply a sum of $46,274,000 for specified services as outlined in the Schedule (section 3). This appropriation covers the recurrent expenditure of the Senate, the House of Representatives, the Parliamentary Reporting Staff, the Parliamentary Library, and the Joint House Department. In addition to this sum, the Minister for Finance may issue additional amounts to cover increases in salaries as determined by the President, the Speaker, or both, before 1 December 1989 (section 4). These additional amounts must not exceed those estimated to be necessary for the payment of salary increases and related payments that became payable after 3 May 1989. The Minister for Finance is required to report to Parliament on the amounts issued under this section. The Act also establishes that any expenditure exceeding the specific appropriations may be charged to certain subdivisions of the Schedule, provided that it does not exceed the amounts appropriated under the heads "Advance to the President of the Senate," "Advance to the Speaker of the House of Representatives," and "Joint Advance to the President and the Speaker" (section 5). These provisions ensure that there is flexibility in managing unforeseen or urgent expenditures within the Parliamentary Departments, with the condition that any such expenditures must be reported to Parliament. The Act imposes obligations on the Minister for Finance to issue and apply the appropriated funds correctly, as well as on the President and the Speaker to ensure that any additional expenditures are justified and within the determined limits (sections 3 and 4). Furthermore, there is an obligation to report to Parliament on any additional amounts issued for salary increases (section 4). The Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for breach, but it is implied that failure to comply with these provisions could result in scrutiny and potential accountability in Parliament. In conclusion, the Supply (Parliamentary Departments) Act 1989-90 facilitates the appropriation and application of funds for the services of the Parliamentary Departments for the financial year ending on 30 June 1990, with specific provisions for additional salary-related expenditures. It sets out clear obligations for the Minister for Finance and the President and Speaker regarding the use of these funds, with a requirement for reporting to Parliament. While the Act does not specify penalties for breach, non-compliance could lead to parliamentary oversight and accountability.