UNIVERSITIES (FINANCIAL ASSISTANCE).
No. 129 of 1964.
An Act to amend the Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963.
[Assented to 24th November, 1964.]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title and citation.
1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1964.
(2.) The Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.
(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963–1964.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3. Section four of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section inserted in its stead:—
Salary rates.
“4.—(1.) For the purposes of financial assistance under this Act in respect of the year One thousand nine hundred and sixty-four—
(a) the approved rate of basic professorial remuneration is Five thousand two hundred pounds per annum;
(b) the approved rate of remuneration for an associate professor or a reader is Four thousand three hundred pounds per annum;
(c) the approved maximum rate in a range of remuneration for a senior lecturer is Three thousand eight hundred pounds per annum; and
(d) the approved minimum rate in a range of remuneration for a lecturer is Two thousand four hundred pounds per annum.
“(2.) Where the Minister is satisfied that a University, in the year One thousand nine hundred and sixty-four, has paid—
(a) basic professorial remuneration at a rate higher than the rate referred to in paragraph (a) of the last preceding sub-section;
(b) remuneration to associate professors or readers at a rate higher than the rate referred to in paragraph (b) of the last preceding sub-section;
(c) remuneration to senior lecturers in accordance with a range of remuneration the maximum rate of which was higher than the rate referred to in paragraph (c) of the last preceding sub-section; or
(d) remuneration to lecturers in accordance with a range of remuneration the minimum rate of which was higher than the rate referred to in paragraph (d) of the last preceding sub-section,
the Minister may determine that the amount payable under the last preceding section in relation to that University in respect of that year shall be limited to such amount as he considers would have been the amount so payable if the approved rates referred to in the last preceding sub-section had been observed, and, in making such a determination, the Minister may have regard to the relationship between rates of remuneration referred to in this section and other rates of remuneration paid by the University.”.
First Schedule.
4. The First Schedule to the Principal Act is amended by omitting Part I. and inserting in its stead the following Part:—
Part I.
Grants for Recurrent Expenditure for the Year 1964.
First Column. | Second Column. | Third Column. |
University. | Fees and State contributions. | Maximum financial assistance under section 3 (1.). |
New South Wales— | £ | £ |
University of Sydney........................... | 4,276,000 | 2,311,000 |
University of New South Wales.................... | 4,092,000 | 2,212,000 |
University of New England...................... | 1,250,000 | 675,000 |
Victoria— | | |
University of Melbourne........................ | 3,556,000 | 1,922,000 |
Monash University............................ | 1,906,000 | 1,032,000 |
Queensland— | | |
University of Queensland........................ | 2,605,000 | 1,408,000 |
Townsville University College.................... | 146,000 | 80,000 |
South Australia— | | |
University of Adelaide.......................... | 2,282,000 | 1,234,000 |
University of Adelaide, Bedford Park................ | 107,000 | 58,000 |
South Australian Institute of Technology.............. | 198,000 | 108,000 |
South Australian Institute of Technology at Whyalla...... | 13,000 | 6,000 |
Western Australia— | | |
University of Western Australia.................... | 1,656,000 | 895,000 |
Tasmania— | | |
University of Tasmania......................... | 677,000 | 366,000 |
| 22,764,000 | 12,307,000 |
Overview
The Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1964 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend the Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963. This legislation was introduced to address the need for revised financial assistance provisions to universities for the fiscal year 1964. The Act specifically sets the approved rates of remuneration for university staff and establishes the financial assistance amounts for different universities based on their fees and state contributions. By specifying these remuneration rates and financial assistance limits, the Act aims to ensure equitable distribution of government funding to support university operations and staff salaries, thereby maintaining educational standards and accessibility across the higher education sector.
Scope and Application
The Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1964, as amended, provides for the financial assistance provided by the Commonwealth of Australia to universities for recurrent expenditure. This Act applies to specific universities within Australia, as detailed in the First Schedule, which includes institutions in New South Wales, Victoria, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia, and Tasmania. The Act stipulates approved salary rates for university staff, including professors, associate professors, readers, senior lecturers, and lecturers, and provides for adjustments in financial assistance if universities exceed these approved rates. The application of this Act is restricted to the financial year 1964, and it allows the Minister to limit financial assistance if the approved salary rates are not adhered to. The Act applies nationally, impacting the Commonwealth's financial relationship with the listed universities. The scope of the Act is further defined and potentially extended by subordinate instruments or regulations that may provide additional details or clarify the application of the Act's provisions.
Key Provisions
The Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1964 amends the existing Universities (Financial Assistance) Act 1963, setting forth new provisions for financial assistance to universities for the year 1964. Section 4 of the Act details the approved salary rates for various academic positions. Specifically, for the year 1964, the approved basic professorial remuneration is set at £5,200 per annum, while associate professors or readers receive £4,300 per annum. The approved maximum rate for senior lecturers is £3,800 per annum, and the approved minimum rate for lecturers is £2,400 per annum. If a university pays higher rates than those approved, the Minister has the authority to limit the financial assistance provided to the university, taking into account the relationship between the university's remuneration rates and other remuneration rates paid by the institution.
The Act imposes obligations on universities to adhere to the approved salary rates as a condition for receiving financial assistance. Universities must ensure that their remuneration packages for professors, associate professors or readers, senior lecturers, and lecturers do not exceed the stipulated rates. Failure to comply with these salary guidelines may result in a reduction or limitation of the financial assistance they receive from the government. This requirement ensures that financial support is allocated fairly and that universities maintain reasonable compensation practices within the approved ranges.
In the event of non-compliance, the Minister has the power to limit financial assistance to the amount that would have been payable if the approved salary rates had been observed. This means that if a university pays its academic staff above the approved rates, the Minister can adjust the financial assistance accordingly, ensuring that the financial support provided does not exceed what would have been provided under the approved rates. Such actions are intended to maintain fiscal responsibility and to ensure that financial assistance is not unduly increased due to excessive remuneration practices. The Act also provides a framework for the Minister to consider the overall remuneration context within the university when making such determinations, ensuring a balanced approach to financial adjustments.