STATES GRANTS (MENTAL INSTITUTIONS).
[Assented to 4th November, 1955.]
[Date of commencement, 2nd December, 1955.]
BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Mental Institutions) Act 1955.
Definition.
2. In this Act, “mental institution” means—
(a) a hospital for the insane ;
(b) a mental hospital ;
(c) a reception house ;
(d) a receiving house ; or
(e) any other similar institution,
that is conducted by a State or is in receipt of a grant for maintenance from a State.
Financial assistance to States.
3.—(1.) Subject to this Act, amounts determined in accordance with this section are payable, from time to time, to each State for the purposes of financial assistance in relation to mental institutions.
(2.) Subject to the next succeeding sub-section, the amount payable to a State under this section at any time is one-third of the amount, or of the total of the amounts, expended by the State for or in connexion with the buildings or equipment of a mental institution or mental institutions on or after the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-five.
(3.) The amount which, but for this sub-section, would be payable to a State at any time under this section shall be reduced by any amount, or the total of any amounts, previously paid to the State under this section.
(4.) The amount payable to a State under this section at any time shall not be paid to the State unless the Auditor-General of the State has furnished to the Minister a certificate in writing certifying the amount, or the total of the amounts, expended by the State for or in
connexion with the buildings or equipment of a mental institution ox mental institutions on or after the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and fifty-five, and before that time.
Maximum amount of financial assistance.
4. The amount, or the total of the amounts, paid to a State under this Act shall not exceed the amount shown in the following table opposite to the name of the State:—
| £ |
New South Wales....................... | 3,830,000 |
Victoria............................. | 2,740,000 |
Queensland........................... | 1,460,000 |
South Australia........................ | 895,000 |
Western Australia....................... | 720,000 |
Ta mania............................ | 355,000 |
| 10,000,000 |
Expenditure for purposes of this Act.
5.—(1.) For the purposes of this Act, an amount shall be deemed not to have been expended for or in connexion with the buildings or equipment of a mental institution unless the amount has been expended with the prior approval of the Minister for or in connexion with—
(a) the erection or alteration of a building used, or to be used, as a mental institution or as part of a mental institution ; or
(b) the acquisition, by purchase or otherwise, of equipment for use in a mental institution.
(2.) Where, before the commencement of this Act—
(a) an amount was expended for or in connexion with—
(i) the erection or alteration of a building used, or to be used, as a mental institution ; or
(ii) the acquisition of equipment for use in a mental institution ; and
(b) the expenditure of that amount is approved by the Minister within a period of six months after the commencement of this Act,
the amount shall be deemed to have been expended with the prior approval of the Minister.
Moneys expended by or on behalf of mental Institutions.
6. Moneys paid by a State to a mental institution, or to a person on behalf of a mental institution, and expended by the mental institution or that person, as the case may be, for or in connexion with the buildings or equipment of the mental institution, shall, for the purposes of this Act, be deemed—
(a) to have been expended by the State for or in connexion with the buildings or equipment of the mental institution ; and
(b) to have been so expended by the State at the time the moneys were expended by the mental institution or that person. as the case may be.
Claims for financial assistance.
7. The Minister may determine—
(а) the manner in which a claim for an amount payable to a State under this Act shall be made; and
(b) the times at which payment of such claims shall be made.
8. Payments under this Act shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.