Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1955

Overview

The Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1955, enacted by the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, aims to amend the Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1948. This Act was introduced to address the need for increased funding and adjustments in the scope of water supply schemes in Western Australia. It provides a legislative framework for appropriating a grant from the House of Representatives to support the water supply needs of specific agricultural and town areas in Western Australia. The Act facilitates amendments to the approved water supply scheme and the boundaries of the prescribed area, ensuring that payments are aligned with the updated scheme and area definitions. The policy objective is to facilitate effective water supply management and development in designated areas of Western Australia by providing the necessary financial support through the appropriation of funds.

Scope and Application

The Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1955 applies to the appropriation of a financial grant for the development and maintenance of water supply schemes within Western Australia. This Act amends the Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1948, extending its scope to include the newly defined "prescribed area" and "the scheme," which are subject to approval by the Treasurer. The Act pertains to the financial obligations of the Commonwealth towards Western Australia for water supply projects, with the specific purpose of ensuring that payments do not exceed prescribed limits over a defined period. The Act's jurisdictional reach is confined to the state of Western Australia, as it involves the appropriation and management of funds for state-specific infrastructure projects. The Act does not specify any exclusions or exemptions, but it does impose financial thresholds on the amount that can be paid out in each financial year, ensuring fiscal responsibility and adherence to the agreed budgetary constraints. The scope of the Act can be further refined or extended through subordinate instruments, allowing for adjustments to the boundaries or scheme specifications as approved by the Treasurer.

Key Provisions

The Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1955 (referred to as the Act) amends the Western Australia Grant (Water Supply) Act 1948 (referred to as the Principal Act). It introduces several key changes to the appropriation amount and payment criteria for water supply schemes in Western Australia. The Act specifies that the appropriation amount is now £4,000,000 (Section 4), replacing the previous amount of £2,150,000. Additionally, the Act redefines key terms such as “the prescribed area” and “the scheme” (Section 3). Under Section 5, the basis for payments is altered to reflect the new definitions and introduces caps on the total payments that can be made each financial year, ensuring that the total does not exceed specified amounts for the years ending on 30th June 1956 to 1959. The Act imposes specific obligations on the parties involved. It mandates that any payments made under the Act must adhere to the new definitions and payment caps outlined in Section 5. Furthermore, if the Treasurer approves alterations to the scheme or the boundaries of the prescribed area, these changes must be considered in any references to the scheme or the area within the Principal Act (Section 6). This ensures that any payments made are in line with the approved alterations and comply with the legislative requirements. Breach of the provisions set out in the Act can lead to significant consequences. Although the Act does not explicitly state offences or penalties, it is implied that non-compliance with the payment caps or failure to adhere to the approved alterations could result in legal ramifications. Given the financial implications and the specific nature of the appropriations, any significant deviation from the prescribed guidelines could potentially lead to civil or criminal consequences, depending on the severity and intent of the breach. The exact penalties would need to be determined in the context of any legal proceedings, but they could include fines or other corrective measures to ensure compliance with the Act.