Explanatory note
This explanatory note relates to this Bill as introduced into Parliament.

Overview of Bill

The object of this Bill is to appropriate additional amounts from the Consolidated
Fund for recurrent services and capital works and services for the year 2007–2008
for the purpose of giving effect to certain Budget variations required by the
exigencies of Government.

The additional amounts appropriated for the 2007–2008 year are:

(a) $190,367,000 in adjustment of the vote “Advance to the Treasurer”, and

(b) $218,584,000 for additional recurrent services.

Outline of provisions

Part 1 Preliminary
Clause 1 sets out the name (also called the short title) of the proposed Act.

Clause 2 provides that the proposed Act commences on the date of assent.

Part 2 Budget variations 2007–2008
Clause 3 appropriates the additional amount in adjustment of the vote “Advance to
the Treasurer”, 2007–2008, the details of which are set out in Column 1 of
Schedule 1.

Clause 4 appropriates the additional amounts for recurrent services, the details of
which are set out in Column 2 of Schedule 1.

Part 3 General
Clause 5 makes it clear that the sums appropriated by the proposed Act are in
addition to any other sums appropriated in respect of the year.

Clause 6 contains miscellaneous provisions concerning the operation of the
proposed Act. Subclause (1) provides that the proposed Act is to be construed as part
of the annual Appropriation Act or Acts. (This emphasises that the appropriations are
part of the budgetary process for the year 2007–2008, and ensures that terms are
construed consistently.) Subclause (2) is consequential on subclause (1) and makes
it clear that the appropriations are not limited to meeting shortfalls from other
appropriations. Subclause (3) validates any payment of the appropriated sums before
the date of assent to the proposed Act. Subclause (3) also provides that the proposed
subsection applies whether or not the proposed Act is assented to during or after the
year 2007–2008. (This removes an argument, based on section 23 of the Public
Finance and Audit Act 1983, that the appropriation lapses at the close of the financial
year.)
Clause 7 validates, to the extent (if any) to which it may be necessary to do so, the
expenditure, before the date of assent to the proposed Act, of any sum to which the
proposed Act applies and the approval of that expenditure.

Clause 8 makes it clear that a reference to an agency specified in Schedule 1 includes
any predecessor of the agency that was responsible for the recurrent services, or
capital works and services, specified in relation to the agency in Schedule 1 in the
financial year concerned. This provision is included because names of Departments
and other agencies may have changed during the financial year concerned because of
administrative changes.

Note: If this Bill is not modified, these Explanatory Notes would reflect the Bill as passed in the House. If the Bill has been amended by Committee, these Explanatory Notes may not necessarily reflect the Bill as passed.

 

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