Bills Digest 87 1995-96
Supply Bill (No. 2) 1996-97
WARNING:
This Digest is prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced
and does not canvass subsequent amendments.
This Digest was available from 23 May 1996
CONTENTS
Date introduced: 8 May 1996
House: House of Representatives
Portfolio: Finance
Commencement: Royal Assent
To authorise the Minister for Finance to issue $1 719 603 000 from the
Consolidated Revenue Fund (CRF)for expenditure on capital works and services,
payments to the States and Territories, and for other services during
the 1996-97 financial year.
The reader is referred to the Digest for the Supply Bill (No. 1) 1996-97.
Clause 3 will authorise the Minister for Finance to issue $1
719 603 000 from the CRF for the purposes detailed in Schedule 2 of this
Bill. Schedule 2 lists the Departments and programs to which the funds
are allocated, including appropriations for:
- Department of Health and Family Services - $680 749 000. This
principally consists of $663 534 000 for payments to the States and
Territories.
Comment: Payments to the States and Territories comprise a number of
items, the main ones being home and community care ($190 936 000); health
care access ($174 691 000); and assistance for people with disabilities
($148 575 000).
- Department of Finance - $175 000 000. The total amount of $175
000 000 is for the Advance to the Minister for Finance.
Comment: The Advance to the Minister for Finance is a form of contingency
fund which is kept topped-up via provisions in the Appropriation Bills
and the Supply Bills. The Advance is only used to provide funding for
any unforeseen and urgent expenditures. These may arise if there are unforeseen
shortfalls in funding for programs for which an appropriation already
exists, or may relate to totally new programs. Monies may also be provided
out of the Advance to cover payments which must be made pending the Minister
for Finance's authorisation for the issue of Warrant authority. (A Warrant
is a document provided by the Minister for Finance to the Secretary of
a Department authorising the drawing of monies from the Commonwealth Public
Account. The Warrant in effect ensures or attests that the making of any
payment is covered by a lawful appropriation.) The Minister for Finance
tables, in Parliament, monthly statements of operations on the Advance.
- Department of Transport and Regional Development - $139 522 000.
This principally consists of $72 715 000 for capital works and services.
Comment: Neither the Bill or the Second Reading Speech to the Bill provide
any guidance as to what acquisitions, buildings, works, plant and equipment
the $72 715 000 is required for.
Clause 4 deals with payments to the States and Territories. Payments
out of the money allocated in Schedule 2 that are specified in Schedule
1 are subject to any terms, conditions or determinations specified by
the appropriate Minister.
Ian Ireland Ph. 06 277 2438
Chris Field Ph. 06 2772439
17 May 1996
Bills Digest Service
Parliamentary Research Service
This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should
be consulted to determine whether the Bill has been enacted and, if so,
whether the subsequent Act reflects further amendments.
PRS staff are available to discuss the paper's contents with Senators
and Members and their staff but not with members of the public.
ISSN 1323-9032
© Commonwealth of Australia 1996
Except to the extent of the uses permitted under the Copyright Act
1968, no part of this publication may be reproduced or transmitted
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other than by Members of the Australian Parliament in the course of their
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Published by the Department of the Parliamentary Library, 1996.
This page was prepared by the Parliamentary Library, Commonwealth of
Australia
Last updated: 23 May 1996
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