Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 2) 1951-52

Overview

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 2) 1951-52 was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to facilitate the appropriation of funds for the year ending 30 June 1952, specifically for capital expenditure on additions, new works, and other services. This Act provides the legislative framework for the issuance and application of £28,031,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to various Commonwealth departments, business undertakings, and territories as specified in the accompanying schedule. The Act's primary objective is to ensure that the allocated funds are made available to meet the specified purposes and to specify the limits and conditions under which these funds can be expended. The Act received Royal Assent on 31 October 1951 and came into operation on the same day. This legislation underscores the need for a structured approach to financial management and accountability within the federal government, ensuring that public funds are directed towards necessary infrastructure and service enhancements across different sectors. The Act authorizes the Treasurer to issue and apply the funds as per the stipulated purposes and limits, thereby facilitating efficient and effective governance during the specified financial year.

Scope and Application

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 2) 1951-52 applies to the allocation and application of a sum from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the financial year ending June 30, 1952. The Act authorises the issuance and application of £28,031,000 for additions, new works, and other services involving capital expenditure for specified Commonwealth departments, services, business undertakings, and territories. The Act identifies the various departments and their respective allocations as listed in the Schedule, and empowers the Treasurer to issue and apply these funds accordingly. The geographic scope of the Act is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act comes into operation immediately upon receiving Royal Assent and mandates that no expenditures may be made under its authority after June 30, 1952. There are no stated exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds in the Act, and the authority to expend the funds is strictly limited to the purposes and timeframe outlined. The Act does not extend or restrict its application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Supply (Works and Services) Act (No. 2) 1951-52 authorises the issuance and application of a specified sum of money from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the year ending 30 June 1952. This fund is intended for capital expenditure on additions, new works, and services across various departments and entities of the Commonwealth (sections 1-3). The Act delineates the specific allocation for each department and entity, as detailed in the accompanying Schedule, which includes the Parliament, individual departments, business undertakings, and territories (Schedule). The obligations imposed by the Act are primarily on the Treasurer, who is empowered to issue and apply the moneys authorised by the Act (section 3). The Act also stipulates that the funds are to be used strictly for the purposes and within the limits set out in the Act and the Schedule. The Act limits the period during which these funds can be expended, specifying that no money shall be expended after 30 June 1952 (section 5). In terms of consequences for breaches, the Act does not explicitly state any offences, penalties, or consequences for non-compliance. However, the strict limitation on the period for expenditure implies that any unauthorised or improper use of funds beyond this date could potentially lead to legal scrutiny or financial redress actions. The Act focuses more on the allocation and limitation of the funds rather than detailing the repercussions for misuse.