{"id":"C2004A01842","name":"Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1977-78","slug":"appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"43 of 1978","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":6751,"registerId":"commonwealth-C2004A01842-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-03-30","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"Short title\n\n1. This Act may be cited as the Appropriation Act (No. 4) 1977–78.\n\n","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"Commencement\n\n2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\n","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"3","sectionType":"section","heading":"Issue and application of $82,220,000","content":"Issue and application of $82,220,000\n\n3. The Minister for Finance may issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply for the services specified in the Schedule, in respect of the year ending on 30 June 1978 the sum of $82,220,000.\n\n","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Appropriation","content":"Appropriation\n\n4. The sum authorized by this Act to be issued out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund is appropriated, and shall be deemed to have been appropriated as from 1 July 1977 for the services expressed in the Schedule in respect of the financial year that commenced on that date.\n\n12964/78 Cat. No. 78 4828 8—Recommended retail price 30c\n\n","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"5","sectionType":"section","heading":null,"content":"5. Payments to a State out of such of the moneys appropriated by this Act as are specified in Division 846 in the Schedule shall be made on such terms and conditions, if any, as the Minister for Finance determines and in accordance with any determinations by the Minister for Finance as to the amounts and times of the payments.\n\n","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"6","sectionType":"section","heading":"Validation","content":"Validation\n\n6. (1) In this section, \"Appropriation Act\" means the Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78.\n\n(2) The authority conferred by section 3 of the Appropriation Act to issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and apply, moneys referred to in that section for services of the Department of National Resources shall, by force of this section, be deemed to have extended to the issuing, during the period commencing on 20 December 1977 and ending on 19 January 1978, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, and the application, of those moneys for those services as services in respect of any other Department of State.\n\n![](image.003.png)![](image.002.png) \n\n","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Sch Schedule","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"SCHEDULE\n\nABSTRACT Section 4\n\n| Page Reference | Departments and Services | Total |\n| -------------- | ------------------------------------------------------------ | ---------- |\n| | | $ |\n| 4 | DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS....................... | 204,500 |\n| 4 | DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES.................. | 754,000 |\n| 4 | DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS........... | 273,000 |\n| 5 | DEPARTMENT OF THE CAPITAL TERRITORY.................... | 3,008,500 |\n| 5 | DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION........................... | 2,355,000 |\n| 5 | DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION.............................. | 503,000 |\n| 6 | DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS..... | 522,000 |\n| 6 | DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT | 584,500 |\n| 7 | DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE................................. | 22,001,700 |\n| 7 | DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH................................. | 347,000 |\n| 8 | DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS............................ | 5,300 |\n| 8 | DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS........... | 1,235,000 |\n| 8 | DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT................... | 9,708,000 |\n| 9 | DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY.................. | 1,000,000 |\n| 9 | DEPARTMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY............................ | 400,000 |\n| 10 | DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE................................. | 50,000 |\n| 10 | DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY.......................... | 55,500 |\n| 10 | DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND RESOURCES..................... | 39,177,000 |\n| 11 | DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT.............................. | 36,000 |\n| | TOTAL............................................ | 82,220,000 |\n\n \n\nDEPARTMENTS AND SERVICES\n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF ABORIGINAL AFFAIRS

Division 813.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

1.—For the purpose of the States Grants (Aboriginal Assistance) Act—

03. Education.............................

64,500

6,334,000

5,921,465

04. Employment...........................

78,000

1,106,000

912,858

05. Welfare...............................

62,000

1,314,000

996,387

Total: Department of Aboriginal Affairs............

204,500

DEPARTMENT OF ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES

Division 817.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Acquisition of Sites and Buildings—Departmental—

13. Department of Health.....................

103,500

7,000

321,765

31. Department of Home Affairs.................

10,300

..

..

113,800

4.—Plant and Equipment—Departmental—

02. Vehicles and equipment—Stores and Transport....

364,000

5,000,000

9,749,605

07. Communications and investigation equipment—Commonwealth Police

276,200

475,000

374,685

640,200

Total: Department of Administrative Services........

754,000

DEPARTMENT OF BUSINESS AND CONSUMER AFFAIRS

Division 826.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Plant and Equipment—

03. Computing Equipment.....................

273,000

723,000

890,997

Total: Department of Business and Consumer Affairs..

273,000

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF THE CAPITAL TERRITORY

Division 829.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

3.—Advances and Loans—

01. Loans for housing (for payment to the Australian Capital Territory Housing Trust Account)

3,000,000

6,500,000

6,500,000

Division 830.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Cafeteria (Australian Capital Territory Police) Trust Account—Contribution to operational expenses

8,500

..

..

Total: Department of the Capital Territory..........

3,008,500

DEPARTMENT OF CONSTRUCTION

Division 831.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Buildings and Works—Departmental—

01. Parliament.............................

24,000

638,000

82,000

11. Department of Finance.....................

12,000

3,000

..

14. Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs.....

7,000

5,000

468,254

25. Department of Science—Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization

785,000

7,500,000

8,361,899

32. Department of Home Affairs.................

1,527,000

..

..

Total: Department of Construction...............

2,355,000

DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION

Division 835.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Buildings and Works—

04. Independent Schools, Northern Territory—Assistance for approved capital programs

3,000

623,000

307,446

Division 836.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

01. Education program for unemployed youth........

500,000

1,000,000

500,000

Total: Department of Education.................

503,000

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF EMPLOYMENT AND INDUSTRIAL RELATIONS

Division 838.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

2.—Commonwealth Hostels—Buildings, Works, Plant and Equipment—

01. Northern Territory.......................

4,000

134,000

57,000

02. Migrant Hostels.........................

62,000

150,000

437,000

Total: Division 838

66,000

Division 839.—PAYMENT TO OR FOR THE STATES

02. Apprentices in State Government establishments...

456,000

5,132,000

4,174,482

Total: Department of Employment and Industrial Relations

522,000

DEPARTMENT OF ENVIRONMENT, HOUSING AND COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT

Division 841.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

2.—Glebe Estate Rehabilitation..................

152,000

800,000

1,207,287

4.—Office of the Supervising Scientist.............

160,000

..

..

Total: Division 841

312,000

Division 842.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

1.—For the Purposes of the Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act—

05. Flood mitigation.........................

272,500

1,800,000

1,574,271

Total: Department of Environment Housing and Community Development

584,500

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF FINANCE

Division 846.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

01. Natural disaster relief and restoration...........

20,000,000

13,000,000

31,476,034

02. Payments to Tasmania in respect of Tasman Bridge Disaster and in respect of reconstruction of Tasman Bridge to provide an additional traffic lane

2,000,000

4,600,000

15,500,000

Total: Division 846

22,000,000

Division 847.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Cafeteria (Finance) Trust Account—Contribution to operational expenses

1,700

..

..

Total: Department of Finance...................

22,001,700

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

Division 853.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

3.—For payment to the Health Insurance Commission established under the Health Insurance Commission Act for the purposes of the Commission

188,000

1,000,000

750,000

Division 854.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

13. Incinerators and associated works in relation to disposal of garbage from overseas ships

2,700

..

7,241

14. Warehouse Beetle Eradication Program—Contribution

156,300

..

..

Total: Division 854

159,000

Total: Department of Health.............

347,000

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF HOME AFFAIRS

Division 817.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

6.—Plant and Equipment—Cocos (Keeling) Island....

5,300

22,000

9,948

Total: Department of Home Affairs...............

5,300

DEPARTMENT OF IMMIGRATION AND ETHNIC AFFAIRS

Division 860.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Buildings and Works—

01. Emergency classroom accommodation—Refugees..

965,000

..

..

Division 863.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Assistance for projects in ethnic communities and provision of information in the ethnic press

200,000

..

..

02. Reimbursement to Voluntary Agencies for assistance to Refugees

70,000

..

..

Total: Division 863

270,000

Total: Department of Immigration and Ethnic Affairs..

1,235,000

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Division 883.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Plant and Equipment—

03. Other Branches.........................

3,600

8,000

12,018

2.—Snowy Mountains Hydro‑electric Authority—For expenditure under the Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Power Act

230,000

620,000

450,000

5.—Investments in petroleum and minerals development

2,041,800

2,570,000

6,736,311

7.—River Murray Commission—For expenditure under the River Murray Waters Act

1,293,900

6,500,000

8,610,855

Total: Division 883

3,569,300

..

..

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

DEPARTMENT OF NATIONAL DEVELOPMENT—continued

$

$

$

Division 885.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

4.—Grant to Queensland to assist the Mount Isa City Council service loan raisings for the Julius Dam Project

325,000

..

..

5.—For the purposes of the Urban and Regional Development (Financial Assistance) Act—

01. Growth centres..........................

4,313,700

..

..

Total: Division 885

4,638,700

Division 886.—OTHER SERVICES

02. Decentralisation (for payment to the Decentralisation Advisory Board Trust Account)

1,500,000

..

..

Total: Department of National Development.........

9,708,000

DEPARTMENT OF THE NORTHERN TERRITORY

Division 899.—NORTHERN TERRITORY LEGISLATIVE ASSEMBLY

1.—For capital expenditure in respect of matters specified in determinations made under section 4ze of the Northern Territory (Administration) Act 1910, being expenditure in accordance with an Ordinance or Ordinances of the Northern Territory making provision with respect to the expenditure of moneys appropriated by the Parliament by virtue of this Item

600,000

24,600,000

23,715,381

2.—Northern Territory Constitutional Development Establishment Grant

400,000

..

..

Total: Department of the Northern Territory........

1,000,000

DEPARTMENT OF PRODUCTIVITY

Division 921.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

3.—Advances and Loans—

02. Working Capital Advance (for payment to the Ordnance Factory, Bendigo Trust Account)

400,000

..

..

Total: Department of Productivity................

400,000

\n```\n\n \n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF SCIENCE

Division 927.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

2.—Plant and Equipment—

06. Space Projects Branch.....................

50,000

69,000

134,958

Total: Department of Science...................

50,000

DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL SECURITY

Division 940.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

06. Payment to Victoria for emergency relief grants to community welfare agencies

50,000

..

..

Division 941.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Welfare Administrators' and Ministers' Conferences—Contribution towards costs of Secretariat

5,500

..

..

Total: Department of Social Security..............

55,500

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND RESOURCES

Division 886.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Proceeds from disposition of uranium stockpile (for payment to the Uranium Stockpile Trust Account)

28,179,000

34,121,000

..

Division 950.—OTHER SERVICES

01. Purchases of uranium from Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited

1,998,000

..

..

Division 952.—CAPITAL WORKS AND SERVICES

1.—Advances and Loans—

01. Loan to Mary Kathleen Uranium Limited........

9,000,000

..

..

Total: Department of Trade and Resources..........

39,177,000

\n```\n\n \n\nDepartments and Serviced—continued\n\n

Additional appropriation for 1977–78

Information with respect to previous appropriation and expenditure

Appropriation made by Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977–78

Expenditure for 1976–77

$

$

$

DEPARTMENT OF TRANSPORT

Division 958.—PAYMENTS TO OR FOR THE STATES

01. For expenditure under the Railway Agreement (Western Australia) Act

36,000

26,000

109,895

Total: Department of Transport.................

36,000

\n```\n\nPrinted by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer","sortOrder":6}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2288},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains strictly within its original purpose as a supplementary appropriation act for the 1977-78 financial year. The validation provision in section 6 does not expand scope but rather corrects a technical administrative error regarding the Department of National Resources' expenditure authority."},"complexity_factors":["Mechanical appropriation format with tabular schedule of allocations","Single cross-reference to Appropriation Act (No. 2) 1977-78","One validation provision (section 6) creating a retrospective deeming rule","No complex conditional logic or layered exceptions"],"plain_english_summary":"This Act authorizes the Australian Government to spend an additional $82.2 million in 1977–78 across government departments, legalizing extra outlays for disaster relief, uranium management, housing loans and other capital and grant commitments. It backdates authority to 1 July 1977 and validates certain payments already made late 1977–early 1978, and makes payments to States subject to terms set by the Minister for Finance."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"Yes. Beyond simply adding funds, the Act (a) retroactively expands the reach of Appropriation Act (No. 2) for a specified period (s.6), (b) treats the appropriation as effective from 1 July 1977 (s.4), and (c) vests the Minister for Finance with discretion over terms, amounts and timing for specified State payments (s.5 and Division 846). Those elements change how previously authorised moneys may be classified, allocated and paid, and shift implementation choices to ministerial decision-making."},"complexity_factors":["Volume and granularity of the Schedule: dozens of line items across many departments (Schedule) increase bookkeeping and allocation complexity.","Retrospective validation: section 6 retroactively deems authority in Appropriation Act (No. 2) to have applied to moneys issued 20 Dec 1977–19 Jan 1978, altering prior accounting/legal characterisation.","Timing and deemed commencement: section 4 treats the appropriation as having effect from 1 July 1977, affecting financial-year accounting and audit trails.","Ministerial discretion over State payments: section 5 and Division 846 permit the Minister for Finance to determine terms, amounts and timing for certain State payments, concentrating implementation discretion in the executive.","Multiple financial instruments and vehicles: allocations include grants, loans, advances and trust‑account contributions (see various Divisions), requiring different administration and legal bases.","Cross-references to other Acts and bodies in Schedule items (e.g. Northern Territory (Administration) Act, Snowy Mountains Hydroelectric Power Act, Health Insurance Commission), which raises coordination and compliance tasks."],"plain_english_summary":"This Act authorises an extra $82,220,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the 1977–78 financial year and appropriates it (deemed effective from 1 July 1977). The Schedule assigns that money to many Commonwealth departments, capital works, loans, trust accounts and payments to the States. Mechanically, it lets the Minister for Finance issue and apply the funds, allows the Minister to set terms and timing for specified State payments (Division 846), and validates a retrospective reallocation of certain departmental services under an earlier Appropriation Act (s.6)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78","history":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78/history","analysis":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/appropriation-act-no-4-1977-78/documents"}}