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Ch11 Financial legislation / BILLS CONTAINING SPECIAL APPROPRIATIONS



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House of Representatives                                Ch 11                                                 p 409

 

Financial legislation

 

Bills containing special appropriations

Special appropriation bills are distinguishable from ordinary bills in that they:

  • contain words which appropriate the Consolidated Revenue Fund to the extent necessary to meet expenditure under the bill; or
  • while not in themselves containing words of appropriation, would have the effect of increasing, extending the objects or purposes of, or altering the destination of, the amount that may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund under existing words of appropriation in a principal Act to be amended, or another Act.
  • Special appropriations may be specific or indeterminate in both amount and duration. Those not restricted in application to one financial year are known as standing appropriations. The majority of total expenditure from the Consolidated Revenue Fund is by way of special appropriation. 1

    Examples of bills which, while not in themselves containing words of appropriation, would increase or alter the destination of the amount that may be paid out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund under existing words of appropriation, are:

    1. a principal Act to be amended—the Apple and Pear Stabilization Amendment Bill (No. 2) 1977 did not contain actual words of appropriation but extended for the 1978 season financial support under the Apple and Pear Stabilization Act 1971 ;
    2. another Act—The ABC/SBS Amalgamation Bill 1986 (cl. 30) provided that money already appropriated for the Special Broadcasting Service be directed to the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.


    H.R Deb. (29.10.81) 2828-9. And see Odgers , 11th edn, p. 289.