Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974

Administered by Department of the Treasury

Legislation au C2004A00191 In force Act

Legislation content

Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974

No. 135, 1974

Compilation No. 5

Compilation date:    22 March 2017

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 13, 2017

Registered:    22 March 2017

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 22 March 2017 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Interpretation

3A Approved bodies

4 Approved programs

5 Financial assistance

6 Conditions

7 Financial assistance by way of loan

8 Agreements to be tabled in Parliament

10 Financial assistance during subsequent financial years

Schedule—Urban and Regional Development Matters

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

An Act to provide Financial Assistance to the States for purposes connected with Urban and Regional Development

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974.

2  Commencement

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

3  Interpretation

  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

appropriate Minister, in relation to a State, means a Minister of that State having functions relating to urban and regional development, and includes any other Minister of that State for the time being acting for and on behalf of such a Minister.

approved body means a body approved under section 3A.

State includes the Australian Capital Territory.

urban and regional development includes any matter specified in an item in the Schedule.

3A  Approved bodies

 (1) The Minister may, in writing, approve a body for the purposes of this Act if the body is:

 (a) an authority of a State; or

 (b) a local governing body; or

 (c) a body corporate constituted for purposes other than the acquisition of gain by its individual members.

 (2) An approval under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

4  Approved programs

  The Minister may, in consultation with an appropriate Minister of a State, approve programs relating to matters specified in the Schedule.

5  Financial assistance

 (1) Australia may agree with a State upon financial assistance by way of a loan or otherwise to be provided by Australia to the State under this Act in respect of expenditure by that State, or by an approved body, in accordance with a program approved under section 4, and financial assistance may be provided to the State accordingly.

 (2) An agreement under subsection (1) shall be in writing.

 (3) An agreement under subsection (1) may include provision for:

 (a) the review of the operation of the agreement; and

 (b) the amendment of the agreement by a further agreement in consequence of such a review;

and the agreement as so amended may vary any conditions provided for by section 7.

6  Conditions

 (1) Financial assistance to a State under this Act is subject to:

 (a) such of the conditions provided for by this Act as are applicable; and

 (b) such other conditions as are specified in the agreement.

 (2) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(a), such of the provisions of this Act as are applicable to a State shall be regarded as conditions.

7  Financial assistance by way of loan

 (1) Subject to this Act, where financial assistance under this Act is provided to a State by way of loan, the State shall:

 (a) repay the loan in such manner, and within such period, as are specified in the agreement in accordance with which the financial assistance is provided; and

 (b) pay interest in respect of the loan at the longterm bond rate in such manner, and at such times within that period, as are so specified.

 (2) For purposes of subsection (1), a reference to the longterm bond rate, in relation to any interest, is a reference to the rate that is equivalent to the rate of yield to maturity of the longterm loan of the last loanraising by the Australian Government in Australia for public subscription before a date specified in, or ascertained in accordance with, the agreement.

8  Agreements to be tabled in Parliament

  The Minister shall cause a copy of every agreement made under this Act, including every amending agreement, to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of the House after the date on which the agreement was made.

10  Financial assistance during subsequent financial years

  Financial assistance provided to the States under this Act shall be made out of moneys appropriated from time to time by the Parliament for the purposes of this Act.

Schedule—Urban and Regional Development Matters

Sections 3 and 4

 1. Urban expansion and redevelopment (which may include sewerage and water supply)

 2. Area improvement, being urban and regional improvement and rehabilitation

 3. Sewerage

 4. Water supply

 5. Flood mitigation

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

    /subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

    effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

    effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

    cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

    commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Act

Number and year

Assent

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974

135, 1974

9 Dec 1974

9 Dec 1974 (s 2)

 

Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1975

74, 1975

19 June 1975

s 3 and 4: 9 Dec 1974 (s 2(2))
Remainder: 19 June 1975 (s 2(1))

Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1978

36, 1978

12 June 1978

s 8 and Sch 1: 12 June 1978 (s 2)

s 8

National Debt Sinking Fund Repeal Act 1994

107, 1994

5 July 1994

Sch: 1 July 1995 (s 2)

Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1994

113, 1994

16 Sept 1994

Sch: 16 Sept 1994 (s 2)

AlburyWodonga Development Corporation (Abolition) Act 2014

117, 2014

11 Nov 2014

Sch 1 (items 4–25): 1 Jan 2015 (s 2(1) item 2)

Sch 1 (items 6, 8–25)

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Acts and Instruments (Framework Reform) (Consequential Provisions) Act 2015

126, 2015

10 Sept 2015

Sch 1 (item 17): 5 Mar 2016 (s 2(1) item 2)

Statute Update (A.C.T. SelfGovernment (Consequential Provisions) Regulations) Act 2017

13, 2017

22 Feb 2017

Sch 1 (item 39): 22 Mar 2017 (s 2(1) item 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

s 3.....................

am No 117, 2014; No 13, 2017

s 3A....................

ad No 117, 2014

s 6.....................

am No 74, 1975; No 117, 2014

s 7.....................

am No 74, 1975

s 9.....................

am No 74, 1975; No 36, 1978

 

rep No 113, 1994

 

am No 107, 1994 (amdt never applied (Sch))

s 10....................

am No 113, 1994

Schedule.................

am No 74, 1975

 

rs No 113, 1994

 

 

Overview

The Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974 (Cth) was enacted by the Commonwealth Parliament to address the need for financial assistance for urban and regional development projects in Australia. The Act aims to provide financial support to the states for initiatives that contribute to the development and improvement of urban and regional areas. By approving specific bodies and programs, and facilitating agreements between the Commonwealth and the states, the Act seeks to ensure coordinated and effective urban and regional development across Australia. The policy objective is to foster sustainable and well-planned urban expansion and redevelopment, area improvement, and infrastructure projects such as sewerage and water supply, ultimately contributing to the overall betterment of urban and regional living conditions.

Scope and Application

The Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974 (Cth) is an Act of the Commonwealth of Australia designed to provide financial assistance to the states for urban and regional development. The Act applies to the states of Australia, including the Australian Capital Territory, and provides for financial assistance to be granted to these states for specified urban and regional development projects, which are outlined in the Schedule to the Act. This assistance can be provided in the form of loans or otherwise, subject to certain conditions and agreements. The Minister for Urban and Regional Development has the authority to approve bodies and programs that are eligible to receive financial assistance under the Act. The Act also includes provisions for the repayment of loans, the tabling of agreements in Parliament, and the appropriation of funds for financial assistance from time to time by the Commonwealth Parliament. The Act's scope may be extended or restricted through subordinate instruments, such as regulations or guidelines, although these are not explicitly mentioned in the text of the Act itself.

Key Provisions

The Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act 1974 (the Act) provides the legal framework for the Australian government to offer financial assistance to states for urban and regional development projects. Section 3A outlines the types of bodies that can be approved to receive financial assistance, such as authorities of a state, local governing bodies, and bodies corporate established for purposes other than profit. Section 4 allows the Minister to approve specific programs related to urban and regional development, which may include urban expansion, redevelopment, area improvement, sewerage, water supply, and flood mitigation, as detailed in the Schedule. Under section 5, financial assistance can be provided to a state or an approved body in accordance with an approved program, and such assistance can be given by way of a loan or otherwise. Section 6 imposes conditions on the financial assistance, which may include conditions specified in the agreement between the Australian government and the state. The Act imposes obligations on both the Australian government and the receiving states or bodies. The Australian government must provide financial assistance in accordance with the approved programs and conditions set out in the agreement (sections 5 and 6). The states or approved bodies must use the financial assistance for the approved urban and regional development programs (section 5). If financial assistance is provided by way of a loan, the state must repay the loan and interest at the long-term bond rate as specified in the agreement (section 7). The Minister is required to table every agreement under the Act in Parliament within 15 sitting days of the House after the date on which the agreement was made (section 8). Breach of the conditions set out in the Act or the agreement can lead to civil and criminal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly state the penalties for breach, it is likely that failure to comply with the conditions could result in legal actions for breach of contract or other civil remedies. Additionally, if the breach involves fraudulent activities or misrepresentation, it could potentially lead to criminal charges under other relevant legislation.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Finance & Banking Law
Instrument
Act
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Financial assistance during subsequent financial years
Reporting & Disclosure Obligations

Interactions

Authorises

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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.