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PARLIAMENT OF AUSTRALIA

THE PARLIAMENTARY LIBRARY

STATES GRANTS (ABORIGINAL ASSISTANCE) BILL 1976

Date introduced: 3 November 1976

House: House of Representatives

Presented by: The Minister for Aboriginal Affairs, Hon. R. I. Viner.

SHORT DIGEST OF BILL

1. Purpose

The purpose of this Bill is to provide a standing legislative authority for payments to the States for programs of assistance to Aboriginal people.

2. Provisions

This Bill provides that:

(a) financial assistance in relation to Aboriginals is granted to the States

— in such amounts and at such times as the Treasurer determines.

— subject to the conditions that the amounts be spent by the State for the benefit of Aboriginals living in that State, in a manner and within a time approved by the Minister for Aboriginal Affairs or by his authorised officer; and that if the State has failed to fulfil this condition the State will repay the amount to the Commonwealth.

(b) grants to the States shall be made out of appropriations made by Parliament.

(c) the Minister shall table in Parliament each year a report on the operation of the Act including a statement of the amount paid to each State during the year.

3. Implications

This Bill has the same provisions as the States Grants (Aboriginal Assistance) Bill 1975 which was introduced in the House of Representatives on 21 October 1975 and lapsed with the double dissolution of the Parliament on 11 November 1975.

It replaces the practice by which a States Grants (Aboriginal Assistance) Bill has been introduced each year and, by providing for the payment in any year of such amounts as are appropriated by Parliament for that purpose in that year, overcomes the deficiency in the present situation that there is no legislative authority in terms of Section 96 of the Constitution for payment to the States during the Supply period.

Education and Welfare Group

4 November 1976 LEGISLATIVE RESEARCH SERVICE

States Grants (Aboriginal Assistance) Bill 1976 (Bills Digest 23, 1976-77) Electronic version created by the Law and Bills Digest Section, Parliamentary Library, 2007.

Warning: This Digest was prepared for debate. It reflects the legislation as introduced and does not canvass subsequent amendments. This Digest does not have any official legal status. Other sources should be consulted to determine the subsequent official status of the Bill.