2017

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL
2017-2018 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Presented by
Mr Andrew Barr MLA
Treasurer

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL 2017-2018

The Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2017-2018 is the mechanism for the appropriation of monies for the 2017-18 financial year for the Office of the Legislative Assembly and officers of the Assembly (the Auditor-General and the Electoral Commissioner).

Under Section 58 of the Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, public money may not be issued or spent except as authorised by law.  Under Section 6 of the Financial Management Act 1996 (FMA), no payment of public money may be made unless it is in accordance with an appropriation.  Section 8 of the FMA provides that there must be a separate Appropriation Act for an appropriation for the Office of Legislative Assembly.  The Bill satisfies the provisions of each of these Acts.

The Bill provides for appropriations for the Auditor-General, the Electoral Commissioner and the Office of the Legislative Assembly in relation to:
(a) controlled recurrent payments;
(b) capital injections; and
(c) payments to be made on behalf of the Territory.

Sections 20AA and 20AC of the FMA require the Treasurer to table a statement of reasons immediately after the introduction of the Appropriation (Office of Legislative Assembly) Bill 2017‑2018 should the Government depart from the Speaker’s “recommended appropriation” for the Office of the Legislative Assembly or any of the officers of the Assembly.  No such statement is required in relation to the Appropriation (Office of Legislative Assembly) Bill 2017‑2018. 

Details of the Bill are set out below:

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL 2017-2018

Clause 1 cites the short title of the Act as being the Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2017-2018 as it relates to the 2017-18 financial year.

Clause 2 provides that the Act commences on 1 July 2017.

Clause 3 refers to the legislative basis for making appropriations.

Clause 4 deals with definitions for the purposes of the Bill.

Clause 5 deals with interpretation for the purposes of the Bill.

Clause 6 provides for the appropriation of $2 894 000 for controlled recurrent payments to the Auditor General in the 2017-18 financial year.

Clause 7 provides for the appropriation of $2 954 000 for controlled recurrent payments to the Electoral Commissioner in the 2017-18 financial year.

Clause 8 provides for the appropriation of $18 972 000 for controlled recurrent payments, capital injection and payments on behalf of the Territory to the Office of the Legislative Assembly in the 2017-18 financial year.