2018

THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY FOR THE
AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL
2018-2019 

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Presented by
Mr Andrew Barr MLA
Treasurer

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL 2018-2019

The Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Bill 2018-2019 is the mechanism for the appropriation of monies for the 2018-19 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.  This 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 2018‑2019 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.  

I will be tabling a separate statement of reasons in relation to the Office of the Legislative Assembly as the Government has not agreed to the total amount of appropriation that the Speaker recommended. 

Details of the Bill are set out below:

APPROPRIATION (OFFICE OF THE LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY) BILL 2018-2019

Clause 1 cites the short title of the Act as being the Appropriation (Office of the Legislative Assembly) Act 2018-2019 as it relates to the 2018-19 financial year.

Clause 2 provides that the Act commences on 1 July 2018.

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 $2 958 000 for controlled recurrent payments and capital injections to the Auditor General in the 2018-19 financial year.

Clause 7 provides for the appropriation of $3 440 000 for controlled recurrent payments and capital injections to the Electoral Commissioner in the 2018-19 financial year.

Clause 8 provides for the appropriation of $21 981 000 for controlled recurrent payments, capital injection and payments on behalf of the Territory to the Office of the Legislative Assembly in the 2018-19 financial year.