Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 1) 1956-57

Legislation au C1956A00036 Not in force Act

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THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.

SUPPLY (WORKS AND SERVICES) (No. 1)

1956-57.

No. 36 of 1956.

An Act to grant and apply a sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven, for the purposes of Additions, New Works and other Services involving Capital Expenditure.

[Assented to 27th June, 1956.]

BE it enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose, of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows':—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 1) 1956-57.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Issue and application of £32,075,000.

3. There shall and may be issued and applied for or towards making good the supply hereby granted to Her Majesty for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven, the sum of Thirty-two million and seventy-five thousand pounds out of the Consolidated Revenue for the purposes and services expressed in the Schedule to this Act, and the Treasurer is hereby authorized and empowered to issue and apply the moneys authorized to be issued and applied.

Sum available for the purposes set forth in Schedule.

4. The sum specified in the last preceding section shall be available to satisfy the warrants under the hand of the Governor-General in respect of any purposes and services expressed in the Schedule to this Act.

Limit of period of expenditure.

5. No money shall be expended under the authority of this Act after the thirtieth day of June, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-seven.

F.3744/56.—PRICE 8D.

Section 3. THE SCHEDULE.

ABSTRACT.

—	Total.
Part 1.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth.	£
PARLIAMENT....................................................	5,000
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT....................................	205,000
DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS................................	31,000
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY....................................	38,000
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT................................	50,000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.....................................	376,000
DEPARTMENT OF WORKS..........................................	229,000
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION...................................	1,481,000
DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE..............................	15,000
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.........................................	202,000
DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION....................................	76,000
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE...........................................	4,000
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY................................	2,000
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES..................................	25,000
DEPARTMENT OF SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT...........................	1,195,000
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION.....................................	126,000
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE.....................	11,000
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT...........................	14,833,000
COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION..	82,000
AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION...........................	400,000
Total Part 1....................	19,386,000

The Schedule—continued.

Abstract—continued.

—	Total.
Part 2.—Business Undertakings.
	£
COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS......................................	249,000
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT..............................	9,435,000
BROADCASTING SERVICES........................................	441,000
Total Part 2.............	10,125,000
Part 3.—Territories of the Commonwealth.
NORTHERN TERRITORY...........................................	858,000
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY..................................	1,693,000
TERRITORY OF PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA.............................	5,000
COCOS ISLANDS.................................................	8,000
Total Part 3.............	2,564,000
Total.................	32,075,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth.
PARLIAMENT.	£	£
Under Control of Department of Works.
Division No. 1.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	5,000
PRIME MINISTER'S DEPARTMENT.
Under Control of Prime Minister's Department.
Division No. 2.
1. Australian High Commissioner in United Kingdom—Equipment and furniture for Australia House and official residences	12,000
2. Australian National University—Permanent buildings, acquisition and erection of dwellings, equipment and works	180,000
3. Official Establishments—Buildings and works................	3,000
		195,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 3.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	10,000
Total Prime Minister's Department.................	..	205,000
DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.
Under control of Department of External Affairs.
Division No. 4.
Buildings, works, equipment and furniture—
1. India......................................	10,000
3. Burma.....................................	3,000
6. Japan.....................................	5,000
10. Other overseas establishments.....................	12,000
		30,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS—continued.	£	£
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 5.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture......................	..	1,000
Total Department of External Affairs.................	..	31,000
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.
Under control of Department of the Treasury.
Division No. 6.
1. Government Printing Office—Purchase of machinery and additional equipment	..	20,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 8.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture......................	3,000
2. Taxation Branch—Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.........	15,000
		18,000
Total Department of the Treasury....................	..	38,000
ATTORNEY-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 10.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture......................	..	50,000
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR:
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 11.
1. Commonwealth offices and other buildings—Acquisition of sites and buildings	..	66,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 12.
1. Commonwealth offices and other buildings—Works, fittings and furniture	285,000
2. Meteorological buildings, works, fittings and furniture...........	25,000
		310,000
Total Department of the Interior.....................	..	376,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
DEPARTMENT OF WORKS.	£	£
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 13.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.......................	..	3,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 14.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture....................	80,000
2. Expenditure under River Murray Waters Act 1915-1954........	100,000
3. Plant and equipment................................	45,000
4. Experimental building station—Plant and material............	1,000
		226,000
Total Department of Works......................	..	229,000
DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION.
Under control of Department of Civil Aviation.
Division No. 15.
1. Airway services, including power and lighting plant and equipment.	333,000
2. Aircraft, launches, vehicles, engines and equipment...........	183,000
Under control of Department of the Interior.		516,000
Division No. 16.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.......................	..	190,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 17.
1. Buildings and works, including shore bases and marine facilities, fittings and furniture	..	775,000
Total Department of Civil Aviation.................	..	1,481,000
DEPARTMENT OF CUSTOMS AND EXCISE.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 19.
1. Buildings, works, fittings, furniture and purchase of vessels......	..	15,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.	£	£
Under control of Department of Health.
Division No. 20.
1. Purchase of laboratory equipment.......................		23,000
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 21.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.......................		9,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 22.
1. Buildings, works, fittings, furniture and purchase of vessels......	..	170,000
Total Department of Health......................	..	202,000
DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION.
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 24.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.......................	..	6,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 25.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture....................	..	70,000
Total Department of Repatriation..................	..	76,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.	£	£
DEPARTMENT OF TRADE.
Under control of Department or Trade.
Division No. 26.
3. Special food investigations—Machinery and plant.............	1,000
6. Residential buildings, works, equipment and furniture, other overseas establishments	1,000
7. Office buildings, works, equipment and furniture, overseas establishments	2,000
		4,000
DEPARTMENT OF PRIMARY INDUSTRY.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 31.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	2,000
DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SERVICES.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 33.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	25,000
DEPARTMENT OF SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT.
Under control of Department of Shipping and Transport.
Division No. 34.
1. Ship construction...................................	966,000
3. Lighthouse services—Purchase and installation of equipment......	12,000
		978,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
DEPARTMENT OF SHIPPING AND TRANSPORT —continued.	£	£
Division No. 35.
1. Expenditure under Railway Standardization (South Australia) Agreement Act 1949	..	200,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 37.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	5,000
2. Marine Branch—Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.........	12,000
		17,000
Total Department of Shipping and Transport............	..	1,195,000
DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION.
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 39.
1. Hostels for accommodation of migrants—Acquisition of sites and buildings	..	35,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 40.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	1,000
2. Reception, training and holding centres for accommodation of migrants	45,000
3. Hostels for migrant workers............................	45,000
		91,000
Total Department of Immigration...................		126,000
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE.
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 41.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.........................	..	6,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
DEPARTMENT OF LABOUR AND NATIONAL SERVICE—continued.	£	£
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 42.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture....................	..	5,000
Total Department of Labour and National Service	..	11,000
DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT.
Under control of Department of National Development.
Division No. 43.
1. Bureau of Mineral Resources—Plant and equipment...........	..	28,000
Division No. 44.
1. Expenditure under War Service Homes Act 1918-1955 (for payment to credit of War Service Homes Trust Account)	..	10,000,000
Division No. 45.
1. Expenditure under Snowy Mountains Hydro-electric Power Act 1949-1955	..	4,800,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 47.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture....................	..	5,000
Total Department of National Development............	..	14,833,000
COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION.
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 49.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings........................	..	7,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 1—continued.
COMMONWEALTH SCIENTIFIC AND INDUSTRIAL RESEARCH ORGANIZATION—continued.	£	£
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 50.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	75,000
Total Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization	..	82,000
AUSTRALIAN ATOMIC ENERGY COMMISSION.
Under control of Department of the Treasury.
Division No. 51.
1. Expenditure under the Atomic Energy Act 1953 (for payment to the credit of the Atomic Energy Trust Account)	..	400,000
Total Part 1.................................	..	19,386,000
Part 2.—Business Undertakings.
COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS.
Under control of Department of Shipping and Transport.
Division No. 52.
1. Trans-Australia Railway..............................	133,000
2. Central Australia Railway.............................	83,000
3. North Australia Railway..............................	31,000
4. Australian Capital Territory Railway......................	2,000
		249,000
Total Commonwealth Railways....................	..	249,000
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT.
Under control of Postmaster-General's Department.
Division No. 53.
1. Telephone exchange services...........................	6,536,000
2. Trunk line services..................................	1,428,000
3. Telegraph and miscellaneous services.....................	293,000
		8,257,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 2—continued.
POSTMASTER-GENERAL'S DEPARTMENT—continued.	£	£
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 54.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings.........................	..	153,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 55.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	1,025,000
Total Postmaster-General's Department...............	..	9,435,000
BROADCASTING SERVICES.
Under control of Postmaster-General's Department.
Division No. 56.
1. Engineering equipment and services—Sound broadcasting........	101,000
2. Sites, buildings, works, fittings and furniture for sound broadcasting studios and other purposes (other than provided under Divisions Nos. 57 and 58)	10,000
3. Television transmitting equipment........................	50,000
4. Television studio equipment............................	100,000
		261,000
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 57.
1. Acquisition of sites and buildings for technical purposes—Sound broadcasting	12,000
2. Acquisition of sites and buildings for sound broadcasting studios....	1,000
3. Acquisition of sites and buildings for television purposes.........	17,000
		30,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 58.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture for technical purposes—Sound broadcasting	25,000
2. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture for television purposes.....	125,000	150,000
Total Broadcasting Services.......................	..	441,000
Total Part 2.................................	..	10,125,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 3.—Territories of the Commonwealth.	£	£
NORTHERN TERRITORY.
DEPARTMENT OF TERRITORIES.
Under control of Department of Territories.
Division No. 59.
1. Plant and equipment.................................	..	26,000
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 61.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	690,000
2. Developmental services—Construction of water supplies, roads and stock routes for pastoral purposes	40,000
		730,000
Total Department of Territories....................	..	756,000
DEPARTMENT OF WORKS.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 62.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	20,000
2. Plant and equipment.................................	54,000	74,000
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 63.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	28,000
Total Northern Territory.........................	..	858,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 3—continued.
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY.
DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.	£	£
Under control of Department of the Interior.
Division No. 64.
1. Forestry (for payment to credit of the Australian Capital Territory Forestry Trust Account)	23,000
2. Sundry works and services.............................	7,000
4. Plant and equipment.................................	15,000
5. Plant and equipment (for payment to credit of Australian Capital Territory Transport Trust Account)	32,000
6. Electricity supply—Engineering works.....................	73,000
Under control of Department of Works.		150,000
Division No. 65.
1. Buildings, fittings and furniture..........................	1,100,000
2. Engineering works..................................	315,000
		1,415,000
Total Department of the Interior....................	..	1,565,000
DEPARTMENT OF WORKS.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 66.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	35,000
2. Plant and equipment.................................	68,000
		103,000
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 67.
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.....................	..	25,000
Total Australian Capital Territory...................	..	1,693,000
TERRITORY OF PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA.
Under control of Department of Shipping and Transport.
Division No. 68.
1. Lighthouse services—Purchase and installation of equipment......	..	4,000

The Schedule—continued.

Part 3—continued.
TERRITORY OF PAPUA AND NEW GUINEA—continued.	£	£
Under control of Department of Works.
Division No. 69.
1. Lighthouse services—Buildings, works, fittings and furniture.......	..	1,000
Total Territory of Papua and New Guinea..............	..	5,000
COCOS ISLANDS.	..
DEPARTMENT OF TERRITORIES.	..
Under control of Department of Works.	..
Division No. 71.	..
1. Buildings, works, fittings and furniture......................	..	8,000
Total Cocos Islands.............................	..	8,000
Total Part 3..................................	..	2,564,000
Total......................................	..	32,075,000

By Authority: A. J. Arthur, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.

Overview

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 1) 1956-57 was enacted by the Commonwealth of Australia to provide for the appropriation of funds for specific works and services, including capital expenditures, for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1957. This Act was assented to on June 27, 1956, and establishes the legal framework for the allocation and application of funds out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund. The primary objective of this legislation was to ensure that the specified sum of £32,075,000 would be available for the intended purposes as detailed in the Act’s Schedule. The funds were to be disbursed by the Treasurer, and the Act set a limit for expenditure, stipulating that no funds could be expended after June 30, 1957. The Schedule to the Act lists detailed allocations for various government departments, business undertakings, and territories, outlining specific areas such as building construction, equipment purchases, and other related services.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 1) 1956-57 applies to various Commonwealth departments, business undertakings, and territories, allowing the appropriation of funds for specific works and services. The act is operational from its assent and authorises the issuance and application of £32,075,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1957, for purposes and services outlined in its Schedule. The act explicitly states that no expenditure can occur after the specified date. The allocated funds cover a range of services, including buildings, works, fittings, furniture, and equipment across various departments such as the Department of Works, Department of Civil Aviation, and Department of Shipping and Transport, as well as business undertakings like the Commonwealth Railways and the Postmaster-General's Department. Additionally, funds are designated for the territories of the Commonwealth, including the Northern Territory, Australian Capital Territory, Territory of Papua and New Guinea, and the Cocos Islands. There are no explicit exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds mentioned in the act itself, although the specifics of expenditure and application may be further defined through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 1) 1956-57, authorises the appropriation and application of a specified sum of money for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1957, towards the provision of additions, new works, and services involving capital expenditure (s. 3). This Act, which comes into operation on the day it receives Royal Assent (s. 2), grants and applies the sum of Thirty-two million and seventy-five thousand pounds from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the purposes outlined in the attached Schedule (s. 3). This sum is available to satisfy warrants issued by the Governor-General for the specified purposes and services (s. 4). It is important to note that no expenditure can be made under this Act after June 30, 1957 (s. 5). The Act imposes specific obligations on the Treasurer to issue and apply the authorised moneys. It also requires that the expenditure must align with the purposes detailed in the Schedule, which includes the allocation of funds to various departments and services, business undertakings, and territories of the Commonwealth. Each division under the various departments and services outlines specific projects and equipment that the funds are to be used for, such as buildings, machinery, and other capital works (Schedule). Breach of the provisions of this Act may lead to legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline specific offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for non-compliance, unauthorised expenditure beyond the specified period or misapplication of funds could potentially lead to legal action under general principles of public law and financial mismanagement. The maximum penalties would depend on the nature and extent of the breach, which might be subject to other relevant laws and regulations governing public funds and government expenditure.

Area of Law: Administrative Law; Finance & Banking Law
Instrument: Act
Concepts: Definitions & Interpretation; Commencement Provisions; Limit of period of expenditure; Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.

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