OUTLINE

These amendments to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 1989 are to remove the budget for the Torres Strait Regional Authority (TSRA) from the budget for the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (ATSIC) effective from the 1997/98 budget.

FINANCIAL IMPACT STATEMENT

Financial impact of the amendment is expected to be nil.

NOTES ON CLAUSES

Clause 1 - Short title

1.        This clause provides that the Act may be cited as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment (TSRA) Act 1997.

Clause 2 - Commencement

2.        This clause provides that the Act will commence on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Clause 3 - Schedule

3.        This clause provides that the Act specified in the Schedule to the Act is amended as set out in the Schedule and any other item in the Schedule has effect according to its terms.

Items 1 to 5 - Repeal provisions for the inclusion of the TSRA budget in ATSIC's budget

Item 1 repeals subsections 58(2) and (3) which provide for the payment of money by ATSIC to the TSRA.

Items 2 and 4 remove "or" in paragraphs 61(7)(c) and 66(2)(c) because of the repeal of the following paragraphs.

Item 3 repeals paragraph 63(4)(fa) which requires ATSIC to allocate an amount under the heading "the TSRA" in its draft budget.

Items 3 and 5 repeal paragraphs 61(7)(d) and 66(2)(d) which provide that money appropriated for the purposes of the TSRA is not `money of the Commission'. These paragraphs become redundant as a result of amendments.

Items 6 and 7 - Provides for a separate appropriation to the TSRA

Item 6 adds section 144T which provides for a separate appropriation for the TSRA.

Item 7 substitutes "section 144TA" for "section 58" in subsection 144ZA(2).

Item 8 - Application

This item provides that the amendments made by items 1 to 7 apply in relation the financial year beginning on 1 July 1997 and later financial years