States Grants (Aboriginal Advancement)

No. 155 of 1968

An Act to grant Financial Assistance to the States in connexion with the Welfare and Advancement of the Aboriginal People of Australia.

[Assented to 10 December 1968]

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 (Aboriginal Advancement) Act 1968.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Grants or financial assistance to States.

3.—(1.) There is payable, during the year that commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight, to each State, for the purpose of financial assistance in connexion with the welfare and advancement of the Aboriginal people of Australia living in that State, such amounts as the Minister determines not exceeding in the whole the amount specified in the Schedule to this Act opposite to the name of that State.

(2.) Payment of an amount to a State under this section is subject to the following conditions:—

(a) that an amount equal to that amount will be applied by the State, in a manner and within a time approved by the Minister, for the purposes of expenditure in connexion with the welfare or advancement of Aboriginal people of Australia living in that State; and

(b) that, if the Minister informs the State that he is satisfied that an amount equal to that amount has not been applied in accordance with the condition specified in the last preceding paragraph, the State will repay that amount to the Commonwealth.

Additional grant of financial assistance to Queensland.

4.—(1.) In addition to the amount payable to the State of Queensland under the last preceding section, there is payable, during the year that commenced on the first day of July, One thousand nine hundred and sixty-eight, to that State, for the purpose of financial assistance in connexion with the welfare and advancement of the Aboriginal people of Australia living at Bamaga in that State, such amounts as the Minister determines not exceeding in the whole Three hundred and fifty thousand dollars.

(2.) Payment of an amount to the State of Queensland under this section is subject to the following conditions:—

(a) that an amount equal to that amount will be applied by the State, in a manner and within a time approved by the Minister, for the purposes of expenditure in connexion with irrigation and associated works at Bamaga in that State; and

(b) that, in accordance with terms and conditions agreed upon between the Commonwealth and the State before that amount is paid, the State will repay that amount to the Commonwealth and will pay interest to the Commonwealth on so much of that amount as has not been repaid.

Payments to be made out of Trust Account.

5. A payment to a State in pursuance of this Act shall be made out of the Aboriginal Advancement Trust Account established under section 62a of the Audit Act 1901-1966.

Certain payments by Queensland to be paid into Commonwealth Capital Fund for Aboriginal Enterprises.

6. Moneys paid to the Commonwealth by the State of Queensland in pursuance of paragraph (b) of sub-section (2.) of section 4 of this Act shall be paid into the Commonwealth Capital Fund for Aboriginal Enterprises established under section 4 of the Aboriginal Enterprises (Assistance) Act 1968.

THE SCHEDULE Section 3.