TEMPLE SOCIETY TRUST FUND.
No. 69 of 1949.
An Act to establish a Trust Fund of certain Moneys received by the Government of the Commonwealth from the Government of the United Kingdom, being Moneys representing Proceeds of the Realization of Assets of the Temple Society, of Members of that Society and of certain other persons, and to provide for the Administration and Application of the Fund.
[Assented to 28th October, 1949.]
Preamble.
WHEREAS certain members of the communal body called the Temple Society (formerly of Palestine, the members of which are generally known as Templars) have immigrated to Australia:
And whereas moneys representing proceeds of the realization of assets of that Society, of members of that Society and of certain other persons who owned property in Palestine have, under arrangements made for the immigration to Australia of members of that Society, been paid to the Government of the Commonwealth by the Government of the United Kingdom and it is expected that other like moneys will be paid to the Government of the Commonwealth:
And whereas it is desirable to make provision for the application of those moneys:
Be it therefore enacted by the King’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 Temple Society Trust Fund Act 1949.
Commencement.
2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
Definitions.
3. In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears—
“the Fund” means the Temple Society Trust Fund established by this Act;
“the Society” means the Temple Society, formerly of Palestine, the members of which are generally known as Templars.
Temple society Trust Fund.
4.—(1.) There shall be a Temple Society Trust Fund, which shall be administered by the Minister in accordance with this Act.
(2.) There shall be paid to the Fund such amounts as have been or are received by the Government of the Commonwealth from the Government of the United Kingdom or otherwise, being moneys representing proceeds of the realization of assets of the Society, of members of the Society and of other persons who owned property in Palestine or Israel.
(3.) The Temple Society Trust Fund shall form part of the Trust Fund referred to in section sixty of the Audit Act 1901–1948, and the provisions of that Act relating to the Trust Fund shall extend to that portion of the Trust Fund which comprises the Temple Society Trust Fund.
(4.) The income received from the investment of any portion of the Fund shall be paid to and form part of the Fund.
Advisory Committee.
5.—(1.) There shall be an Advisory Committee consisting of—
(a) a representative of the Department of Immigration;
(b) a representative of the Department of the Treasury; and
(c) a representative of the Attorney-General’s Department,
to advise the Minister with respect to the application of the moneys standing to the credit of the Fund.
(2.) The members of the Advisory Committee shall be appointed by the Minister.
Application of moneys in Fund.
6.—(1.) The moneys standing to the credit of the Fund may be applied by the Minister—
(a) in making payments, on such terms and conditions as the Minister thinks fit, to persons referred to in sub-section (2.) of section four of this Act; and
(b) in meeting expenses incurred by the Commonwealth in connexion with the administration of the Fund or in connexion with the immigration to Australia of persons referred to in that sub-section.
(2.) Where the Minister is satisfied that there is no person in Australia who is justly entitled to any moneys forming part of the Fund, those moneys may be refunded to the Government from which, or the person from whom, they were received.
Exemption from liability.
7. The Commonwealth or the Minister shall not be subject to any liability in connexion with anything done or omitted to be done in relation to the Fund or in relation to any payment of money in pursuance of this Act.
Regulations.
8. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.