Treasury Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules 1917, No. 130, enacted on the 13th of June, 1917, represents an amendment to the Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act 1901-1912. This legislative instrument was issued by the Governor-General, R. M. Ferguson, with advice from the Federal Executive Council and John Forrest as the Treasurer. The problem or gap this amendment was introduced to address is the need for a specific form to issue receipts for customs duty paid, exempting these receipts from the general regulations outlined in preceding paragraphs. The policy objective, as implied by the amendment, is to streamline the process of issuing receipts for customs duties, ensuring clarity and specificity in the documentation and exemption from broader regulatory constraints.

Scope and Application

This legislative instrument pertains to an amendment of the Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act 1901-1912, specifically focusing on the issuance of receipts for customs duty paid. The amendment applies to the Commonwealth of Australia, governing the administration and financial operations of the federal government, particularly in relation to customs and excise duties. The amendment introduces a new Form 5a for issuing receipts for customs duty, which is distinct from the existing regulations governing other forms of receipts. This new form exempts these receipts from the preceding regulations, thereby providing a specific process for handling customs duty receipts. The change is intended to streamline and formalise the documentation process for customs duty payments within the federal jurisdiction. The amendment extends to the entire Commonwealth, ensuring a uniform application across all states and territories within Australia. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions noted within the text, though the introduction of Form 5a implies a targeted approach to specific types of receipts.

Key Provisions

The statutory rules outlined in the Legislative Instrument C1917L00130 amend Treasury Regulations under the Audit Act 1901-1912. The primary change introduced by this amendment (section 34) allows for receipts for customs duty to be issued in Form 5a. This new form of receipt is explicitly stated not to be subject to the preceding paragraphs of the regulation. This means that the new Form 5a has distinct parameters and conditions separate from other forms that might have been previously used for similar purposes. The amendment imposes specific obligations on the entities involved with customs and excise duties. It mandates that receipts for customs duty be issued using Form 5a, ensuring that these receipts are distinct and governed by their own set of rules. This clarity is crucial for both the issuing authority and the recipients, as it sets a standardised procedure for acknowledging the payment of customs duties. The entities must ensure that all customs duty receipts issued follow the format and conditions specified in Form 5a. In terms of consequences for non-compliance, the statutory rules do not explicitly detail any offences, penalties, or specific civil or criminal consequences for failing to adhere to the new regulations on Form 5a. However, given the formal nature of statutory amendments and the importance of compliance with treasury regulations, it is reasonable to infer that non-compliance could lead to administrative penalties or other enforcement actions. The precise nature and extent of these consequences would typically be further defined in the relevant sections of the Audit Act or associated administrative guidelines.