STATES GRANTS (ABORIGINAL ASSISTANCE) ACT 1976
No. 1 of 1977
An Act to provide for Financial Assistance to the States in relation to Aboriginals.
BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—
Short title.
1. This Act may be cited as the States Grants (Aboriginal Assistance) Act 1976.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definition.
3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears, “Aboriginals” means persons who are—
(a) members of the Aboriginal race of Australia; or
(b) members of the race to which Torres Strait Islanders belong.
Financial assistance.
4. (1) Financial assistance in relation to Aboriginals is granted to the States in accordance with this Act.
(2) Subject to this Act, the financial assistance to a State under this Act is payable in such amounts, and at such times, as the Treasurer determines.
Conditions.
5. (1) A grant of financial assistance to a State under this Act is subject to each of the following conditions:—
(a) that each amount paid to the State under this Act will be applied by the State, in a manner and within a time approved by the Minister or an authorized officer, for the purposes of expenditure for the benefit of Aboriginals living in that State;
(b) that, if the Minister informs the Treasurer of the State that he is satisfied that the State has failed, in respect of an amount paid to the State under this Act, to fulfil the condition referred to in paragraph (a), the State will repay that amount to the Commonwealth.
(2) In paragraph (1)(a), “authorized officer” means an officer of the Department of Aboriginal Affairs authorized in writing by the Minister to give approvals under that paragraph.
Grants to be made out of annual appropriation.
6. A grant to a State under this Act shall be made out of moneys available under an appropriation made by the Parliament.
Annual report.
7. (1) The Minister shall, as soon as practicable after 30 June in each year, cause to be laid before each House of the Parliament a report on the operation of this Act during the year ending on that date.
(2) A report referred to in sub-section (1) shall include a statement setting out the amount paid under this Act to each State during the year to which the report relates.
(3) For the purposes of this section, the period commencing on the date of commencement of this Act and ending on 30 June 1977 shall be deemed to be a year.
