War Service Homes Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1923, No. 114, Regulations Under the War Service Homes Act 1918-1920, were enacted by the Governor-General in Council, on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. This legislative instrument was created to address certain administrative and financial oversight issues within the framework of the War Service Homes Act 1918-1920. The primary objective of these regulations was to ensure that applicants for war service homes are liable for interest on progress payments made to contractors and that all insurances are handled through the Commissioner, with premiums credited to the War Service Homes Insurance Trust Account. These amendments aimed to tighten the administrative control over the financial aspects associated with the construction and insurance of war service homes, thereby enhancing the efficiency and accountability of the scheme.

Scope and Application

The Regulations Under the War Service Homes Act 1918-1920, established by Statutory Rules 1923, No. 114, pertain to the management and financial obligations of applicants who receive services from the Commissioner for War Service Homes. These regulations apply to individuals who are applying for and receiving services under the Act, particularly the construction of dwelling-houses, and impose specific financial conditions such as the payment of interest on progress payments made to contractors. This regulation extends to all dealings and transactions involving the Commissioner and applicants, ensuring that the financial obligations are clearly defined and adhered to. Additionally, the regulations mandate that all insurances related to the Act must be arranged through the Commissioner unless otherwise specified, with all premiums directed to the War Service Homes Insurance Trust Account. The scope of these regulations is jurisdictional, applying nationally across the Commonwealth of Australia as specified by the Governor-General and Federal Executive Council. There are no explicit exclusions or exemptions mentioned in the text, and the regulations are enforced to ensure compliance with the financial and administrative provisions of the War Service Homes Act.

Key Provisions

The War Service Homes Regulations 1923 (C1923L00114) introduce new provisions to the existing War Service Homes Regulations 1919, particularly concerning financial obligations and insurance arrangements for applicants. Regulation 19h specifies that where the Commissioner constructs a dwelling on behalf of an applicant, the applicant is to pay interest to the Commissioner on progress payments made to the contractor. This interest is to be paid from the date of each respective payment by the Commissioner and must be settled by the last day of the calendar month in which the final instalment to the contractor is paid (Reg. 19h). Regulation 43a mandates that all insurances pursuant to the Act must be arranged with the Commissioner unless otherwise directed, with all premiums for such insurances to be paid to the Commissioner and credited to the War Service Homes Insurance Trust Account as per section 40 of the Act (Reg. 43a). These regulations impose specific financial obligations on applicants. Firstly, applicants must ensure they pay interest on progress payments made to contractors, as stipulated in Regulation 19h. This interest accrues from the date of each payment by the Commissioner and must be settled by the end of the month in which the final instalment is paid to the contractor. Secondly, applicants must arrange all insurances related to their dwelling with the Commissioner, as per Regulation 43a, unless otherwise specified. This requirement ensures that all insurance premiums are paid to and credited by the Commissioner to the designated Trust Account. Failure to comply with these regulations may result in legal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, breaches of statutory obligations under the War Service Homes Act 1918-1920 could potentially lead to civil or administrative actions. Given the regulatory nature of these provisions, non-compliance might attract penalties or enforcement actions as deemed appropriate by the Commissioner, which could include financial penalties or other corrective measures. The exact consequences would depend on the specific circumstances and the applicable provisions of the Act and Regulations.