Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment Act 1999

No. 112, 1999

An Act to amend the Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1973

[Assented to 12 September 1999]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the Commonwealth Grants Commission Amendment Act 1999.

2 Commencement

This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

3 Schedule(s)

Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Commonwealth Grants Commission Act 1973

1 Title

Omit “and the financing of works and services in respect of the other Territories”, substitute “, the financing of works and services in respect of the other Territories and the financing of works and services in respect of indigenous persons”.

2 Section 4

Insert:

indigenous person means:

(a) a person of the Aboriginal race of Australia; or

(b) a descendant of an indigenous inhabitant of the Torres Strait Islands.

3 After section 17

Insert:

18 Inquiries relating to indigenous persons

(1) The Commission must inquire into and report to the Minister upon any matters that the Minister refers to the Commission relating to:

(a) works and services in respect of indigenous persons that are provided or funded (directly or indirectly) by the Commonwealth or an authority of the Commonwealth; or

(b) a grant of financial assistance under section 96 of the Constitution to a State for the purpose of being applied by the State, or an authority of the State, to pay for works and services in respect of indigenous persons in the State; or

(c) a grant of financial assistance made by the Commonwealth to a Territory, or an authority of the Territory, for the purpose of being applied by the Territory or the authority to pay for works and services in respect of indigenous persons in the Territory.

(2) Subsection (1) applies whether or not:

(a) the works or services are provided or funded exclusively in respect of Indigenous persons; or

(b) the financial assistance is applied exclusively in respect of Indigenous persons.

4 Subsections 25(1) and (2)

Omit “or 17”, substitute “, 17 or 18”.

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

House of Representatives on 30 March 1999

Senate on 22 June 1999]

(59/99)