States Grants (Drought Assistance)

No. 31 of 1966

An Act to make provision for the grant of Financial Assistance to the States of New South Wales and Queensland in relation to the Alleviation of the effects of Drought.

[Assented to 24 May, 1966]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Drought Assistance) Act 1966.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall be deemed to have come into operation on the sixth day of December, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-five.

Interpretation.

3. A reference in this Act to the cost to a State of measures taken for the purpose of alleviating the effects of drought includes a reference to the amounts of loans made for that purpose by the State, or out of moneys provided by the State.

Financial assistance to New South Wales and Queensland before 1 July 1966.

4.—(1.) Subject to this section, the Treasurer may authorize the payment to a State specified in the Schedule to this Act, by way of financial assistance, of amounts not exceeding in the aggregate the cost to the State, during such period immediately preceding the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-six, as is determined in consultation between the Commonwealth and the State, of measures taken for the purpose of alleviating the effects of drought.

(2.) Payments to a State under this section shall not exceed in the aggregate the amount specified in the Schedule to this Act opposite to the name of that State.

(3.) Payments under this section, and advances in respect of such payments, shall be made out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.

Financial assistance to New South Wales and Queensland on or after 1 July 1966.

5.—(1.) Subject to this section, the Treasurer may authorize the payment to a State specified in the Schedule to this Act, by way of financial assistance, of amounts not exceeding in the aggregate the cost to the State, on or after the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-six, of measures taken for the purpose of alleviating the effects of drought.

(2.) Payments to a State under this section in a financial year shall not exceed in the aggregate the sum of the amounts appropriated by the Parliament for the purposes of payments under this Act to that State during that financial year.

Conditions.

6.—(1.) Payment of an amount (including an advance) to a State under this Act is subject to such conditions, if any, as the Treasurer determines.

(2.) The conditions that may be determined by the Treasurer under the last preceding sub-section may include a condition as to repayment of the whole or a part of the amount.

Advances.

7. The Treasurer may, at such times as he thinks fit, out of moneys lawfully available, make advances to a State of such amounts as he thinks fit on account of an amount that may become payable under section 4 or section 5 of this Act to that State.

THE SCHEDULE

Section 4.