Contents
1............ Short title............................................................................................ 1
2............ Commencement.................................................................................. 1
3............ Objects of Act.................................................................................... 2
4............ Interpretation...................................................................................... 2
5............ Guidelines for the scheme................................................................... 2
6............ Priorities for assistance....................................................................... 2
7............ Consultation....................................................................................... 3
8............ Responsibility of Minister................................................................. 3
9............ Secretary to have responsibility for administration of scheme.......... 3
10.......... Payment not to be made unless in accordance with guidelines........... 4
11.......... Principles of administration................................................................ 4
12.......... Regulations......................................................................................... 4
A Bill for an Act concerning the provision of emergency assistance for the communities of the Lower Lakes and Coorong region of South Australia
The Parliament of Australia enacts:
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Emergency Assistance Fund for the Lower Lakes and Coorong Region of South Australia Act 2008.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3 Objects of Act
The objects of this Act are to make provision for emergency funding by the Commonwealth to assist the communities in the Lower Lakes and Coorong region of South Australia.
4 Interpretation
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Minister means the Minister for Climate Change and Water.
scheme means the scheme known as the Lower Lakes and Coorong Assistance Scheme.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department of the Environment, Water, Heritage and the Arts.
5 Guidelines for the scheme
(1) As soon as practicable after the commencement of this Act the Minister must, by instrument in writing, determine guidelines for the operation of the scheme.
(2) Guidelines determined under subsection (1) must contain details of the eligibility requirements to be satisfied by a person or an organisation in order to receive assistance under the scheme.
(3) An instrument determining guidelines under subsection (1) is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
6 Priorities for assistance
The guidelines determined under section 5 must ensure that the need to provide immediate practical assistance to local people, local business, local communities and local wildlife suffering due to the devastation of the Lower Lakes and Coorong economy is recognised, and that due regard is had to:
(a) the needs of the local community, small business, tourism operators, the fishing industry and farmers; and
(b) the need to provide special support for the protection of wildlife and flora in the region.
7 Consultation
(1) The Minister must, for the purposes of this Act, consult with representatives of:
(a) local government;
(b) community or welfare organisations;
(c) local environmental groups;
(d) small business, including tourism operators;
(e) farmers;
(f) the fishing industry;
(g) any other relevant individuals or bodies.
(2) Consultation under subsection (1) must take place:
(a) before guidelines are determined for the purposes of section 5; and
(b) twice each year after the commencement of the scheme.
8 Responsibility of Minister
The Minister is to have general responsibility for the operation of the scheme and, in particular for:
(a) determining guidelines under section 5; and
(b) in the event of the disallowance of guidelines made under section 5, determining replacement guidelines so as to ensure that there is no time when the scheme is not in operation.
9 Secretary to have responsibility for administration of scheme
The Secretary is to have general responsibility for the administration of the scheme.
10 Payment not to be made unless in accordance with guidelines
A payment must not be made in relation to the scheme unless the requirements of the guidelines made under section 5 have been satisfied in respect of the payment.
11 Principles of administration
In administrating this Act, the Secretary is to have regard to the necessity of ensuring that:
(a) payments for the purposes of the scheme are made only in accordance with guidelines determined under section 5; and
(b) information about the operation of the scheme is made available to members of the public in the region; and
(c) procedures and practices established under or for the purposes of this Act and for the operation of the scheme help to minimise abuses of the scheme.
12 Regulations
The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:
(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or
(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.