{"id":"C1937A00016","name":"Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937-38","slug":"appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"16 of 1937","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":3867,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1937A00016-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-03-30","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937-38","content":"THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.\n\n---\n\nAPPROPRIATION (WORKS AND BUILDINGS) \n1937-38.\n\n---\n\nNo. 16 of 1937.\n\nAn Act to grant and apply a sum out of the Consolidated. Revenue Fund for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight for the purposes of Additions, New Works, Buildings, &c., and to appropriate such sum.\n\n\\[Assented to 11th September, 1937.\\]\n\nPreamble.\n\nBE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—\n\nShort title.\n\n1. This Act may be cited as the Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1937–38.\n\nIssue and application of £3,721,000.\n\n2. The Treasurer may issue out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund and apply towards making good the supply hereby granted to His Majesty for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight the sum of Three million seven hundred and twenty-one thousand pounds.\n\nAppropriation.\n\n3. The said sum granted by this Act is appropriated for the purposes and services set forth in the Schedule in relation to the financial year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and thirty-eight.\n\nSCHEDULE\n\nF.5038.—Price 8d.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nSCHEDULE.\n\n---\n\nABSTRACT.\n\n```html\n

Page Reference.

—

1937–38.

1936–37.

Increase on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

3

Part I.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth

567,000

1,792,709

1,641,610

..

1,074,610

10

Part II.—Business Under-takings

2,519,000

1,924,000

2,310,886

208,114

..

12

Part III.—Territories of the Commonwealth

635,000

456,631

367,066

267,934

..

Total Annual Votes........

3,721,000

4,173,340

4,319,562

..

598,562

TOTAL ADDITIONS, NEW WORKS, BUILDINGS, ETC.

3,721,000

4,173,340

4,319,562

..

598,562

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART I.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1937–38.

1936–37.

Increase on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

1a

PARLIAMENT...........

..

60

58

..

58

1–2

PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT

40,100

45,500

18,528

21,572

..

3

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS

350

..

..

350

..

4–5

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY

6,010

6,365

7,304

..

1,294

6

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT

1,630

..

..

1,630

..

7–8

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR

303,740

399,594

368,531

..

64,791

9–25

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

8,000

1,117,772

1,115,983

..

1,107,983

26

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS

40,000

43,045

21,096

18,904

..

27

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

40,250

25,000

8,395

31,855

..

28

DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION

99,730

123,000

88,860

10,870

..

29–30

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

27,190

32,373

12,855

14,335

..

TOTAL PART I....

567,000

1,792,709

1,641,610

..

1,074,610

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART I.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\n```html\n

PARLIAMENT.

1937–38.

1936–37.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 1a.

£

£

£

1. National Library, Canberra—Erection of.............

..

60

58

PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT.

Under Control of Department of the Prime Minister.

Division No. 1.

1. Vessel for development of fisheries industry—Purchase...

16,230

17,500

5,442

2. Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Buildings, works and sites

20,370

23,850

9,433

Total Division No. 1.............

36,600

41,350

14,875

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 2.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

3,500

..

..

Council for Scientific and Industrial Research—Buildings, works and sites

..

4,150

3,653

Total Prime Minister’s Department...

40,100

45,500

18,528

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 3.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

350

..

..

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY.

Under Control of Department of the Treasury.

Division No. 4.

1. Government Printing Office, Canberra—Purchase of machinery and additional equipment for

2,840

4,165

4,162

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY—continued.

1937–38.

1936–37.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 5.

£

£

£

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

3,170

..

..

Government Printing Office, Canberra—Additions and alterations

..

400

392

Erection of cottage for Taxation Officer at Darwin.......

..

1,800

2,750

Total Division No. 5.................

3,170

2,200

3,142

Total Department of the Treasury.......

6,010

6,365

7,304

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 6.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

1,630

..

..

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 7.

1. Expenditure under River Murray Waters Act 1915–1934...

90,000

120,000

110,000

2. Australian War Memorial, Canberra—Erection of (to be paid to the credit of the War Memorial, Canberra, Trust Account)

50,000*

30,000

30,000

3. Commonwealth offices and other buildings—Architectural and engineering services

10,540

3,000

5,989

4. Meteorological Buildings—Erection of and additions and alterations to

23,000

13,000

..

5. Governor-General’s establishments—Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture

1,400

6,530

5,857

6. Memorial at Canberra to His late Majesty King George V.—Erection†

7,500

8,500

695

7. Forestry School, Canberra—Erection of building........

1,000‡

..

..

8. Fittings and furniture..........................

4,300

..

..

Commonwealth Offices, Brisbane—Erection..........

..

18,564

15,990

Total Division No. 7................

187,740

199,594

168,531

Division No. 8.

1. Expenditure under War Service Homes Act 1918–1935 (to be paid to credit of the War Service Homes Trust Account)

116,000

200,000

200,000

Total Department of the Interior..................

303,740

399,594

368,531

\n```\n\n\\* Estimated further liability, £62,000. † Total estimated cost, £20,000. ‡ Estimated further liability, £2,200.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.

1937–38.

1936–37.

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 9.

£

£

£

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

2,500

..

..

NAVAL.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 10.

1. Naval construction............................

133,000†

599,210

546,201

Division No. 11.

1. Reserves of stores, including ammunition, ordnance, torpedo stores and oil fuel (moneys received from the sale of reserves of coal may be credited to this item)

335,100

55,650

55,647

2. Naval establishments—machinery, plant and wireless telegraphy equipment

84,850

4,850

4,494

3. Targets for fleet, yard craft, boats and launches—Construction

5,880

10,920

10,032

Total Division No. 11.................

425,830

71,420

70,173

Division No. 12.

1. Educational orders and associated services, as recommended by the Principal Supply Officers Committee in connexion with supply preparations

15,000

..

..

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 13.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

69,990‡

127,690

57,699

643,820

798,320

674,073

Less amount estimated to remain unexpended at close of year

47,030

..

..

Total Naval..........................

596,790

798,320

674,073

\n```\n\n† Includes provision for Exchange £18,000. ‡ Total estimated cost, £300,000.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE—continued.

1937–38.

1936–37.

MILITARY.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 14.

£

£

£

1. Coast defences—equipment and works...............

113,920

204,428

90,500

Division No. 15.

1. Arms, armament and ammunition (£89,500 of this amount to be paid to the credit of the Defence Small Arms Ammunition Trust Account)

385,740

502,038

310,231

2. Defence works, including fortifications and engineering works (to be paid to the credit of the Defence Reserve Trust Account)

8,040

2,750

2,750

Total Division No. 15..............

393,780

504,788

312,981

Division No. 16.

1. Educational orders and associated services, as recommended by the Principal Supply Officers Committee in connexion with supply preparations

70,000

..

..

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 17.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

245,970

522,478

276,507

Total Military....................

823,670

1,231,694

679,988

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 18.

1. Landplane and seaplane equipment and plant, including spare parts, machinery, tools, ordnance and engineering supplies and ammunition

588,470

349,129

338,650

Division No. 19.

1. Educational orders and associated services, as recommended by the Principal Supply Officers Committee in connexion with supply preparations

15,000

..

..

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 20.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture..........

162,630

327,962

165,328

766,100

677,091

503,978

Less amount estimated to remain unexpended at close of year

10,052

..

..

Total Royal Australian Air Force........

756,048

677,091

503,978

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE—continued.

1937–38.

1936–37.

CIVIL AVIATION BRANCH.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 21.

£

£

£

1. Buildings and works...........................

8,000

8,000

6,212

Under Control of Department of the Interior and Department of Defence.

Division No. 22.

1. Empire Air Mail Scheme—Buildings, works and sites, including provision of shore bases and marine facilities; radio, aeronautical and direction finding equipment and control and auxiliary launches

200,000

..

..

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 23.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

132,072

149,100

149,099

Total Civil Aviation Branch...........

340,072

157,100

155,311

MUNITIONS SUPPLY BRANCH.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 24.

1. Machinery and plant for manufacture of munitions.......

178,000

132,934

132,934

Small Arms Ammunition Factory, Footscray—instalments on acquisition

..

9,576

9,576

Total Division No. 24................

178,000

142,510

142,510

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 25.

1. Buildings, works and sites, fittings and furniture........

98,750

63,065

36,310

Total Munitions Supply Branch.........

276,750

205,575

178,820

2,795,830

3,069,780

2,192,170

Less—

Amount to be provided from Civil Aviation Trust Account to meet expenditure under Division No. 23

132,072

..

..

Amount to be provided from the Defence Equipment Trust Account

2,655,758

1,952,008

1,076,187

2,787,830

1,952,008

1,076,187

Total Department of Defence...........

8,000

1,117,772

1,115,983

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

1937–38.

1936–37.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

Division No. 26.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings, furniture and purchase of vessels

40,000

43,045

21,096

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 27.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings, furniture and purchase of vessel

40,250*

25,000

8,395

DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 28.

1. Buildings, works and sites, fittings and furniture........

99,730†

123,000

88,860

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 29.

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

12,490

8,273

1,034

Under Control of Department of Commerce.

Division No. 30.

1. Lighthouse services—Alterations..................

14,700

24,100

11,821

Total Department of Commerce........

27,190

32,373

12,855

TOTAL PART I.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth

567,000

1,792,709

1,641,610

\n```\n\n\\* Estimated further liability, £6,800. † Estimated further liability, £240,000.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART II.—Business Undertakings.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1937–38.

1936–37.

Increase on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Vote.

Expenditure.

31

COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS................

269,000

174,000

194,000

75,000

..

32

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT...........

2,250,000

1,750,000

2,116,886

133,114

..

TOTAL PART II...........................

2,519,000

1,924,000

2,310,886

208,114

..

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART II.—Business Undertakings.\n\n```html\n

COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS.

1937–38.

1936–37.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

£

£

£

Division No. 31.

1. Trans-Australian Railway.......................

142,000

169,415

191,438

2. North Australia Railway........................

800

750

507

3. Central Australia Railway.......................

16,100

3,735

1,955

4. Federal Territory Railway.......................

100

100

100

5. Port Augusta-Port Pirie Railway...................

110,000

..

..

Total Commonwealth Railways........

269,000

174,000

194,000

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.

Under Control of the Postmaster-General’s Department and the Department of the Interior.

Division No. 32.

1. Telephone exchange services.....................

1,031,000

852,850

1,347,760

2. Trunk line services............................

555,000

398,780

289,116

3. Telegraph and miscellaneous services...............

57,000

58,500

54,233

4. National Broadcasting service.....................

107,000

89,870

81,317

5. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

500,000‡

350,000

344,460

Total Postmaster-General’s Department.......

2,250,000

1,750,000

2,116,886

TOTAL PART II.—Business Undertakings........

2,519,000

1,924,000

2,310,886

\n```\n\n‡ Estimated further liability, £212,500.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART III.—Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1937–38.

1936–37.

Increase on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1936–37.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£ ‘

£

£

33

NORTHERN TERRITORY.

120,000

93,000

81,379

38,621

..

34–36

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRI-TORY

515,000

363,631

285,687

229,313

..

TOTAL PART III..

635,000

456,631

367,066

267,934

..

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\nPART III.—Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\n```html\n

NORTHERN TERRITORY.

1937–38.

1936–37.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 33.

£

£

£

1. Buildings, works, sites, fittings and furniture...........

94,500*

68,000

64,005

2. Metalliferous mining industry—Assistance to and development of

25,500

25,000

17,374

Total Northern Territory...............

120,000

93,000

81,379

FEDERAL CAPITAL TERRITORY.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 34.

1. Architectural services, fittings and furniture...........

189,610

153,107

107,507 ‘

2. Engineering services...........................

306,460

197,900

133,955

3. Forestry...................................

7,370

8,000

9,624

4. Sundry works and services.......................

10,460

11,533

9,936

5. Canberra Cemetery—Minor services (to be paid to the credit of the Canberra Cemetery Trust Account)

600

..

..

514,500

370,540

261,022

Less amount estimated to remain unexpended at the close of the year

30,000

30,034

..

Total Division No. 34................

484,500

340,506

261,022

Division No. 35.

1. Loans for Housing...........................

30,000†

20,000

21,901

Division No. 36.

1. Department of Health—Buildings, works, fittings and furniture

500

3,125

2,764

Total Federal Capital Territory.........

515,000

363,631

285,687

TOTAL PART III.—Territories of the Commonwealth......

635,000

456,631

367,066

TOTAL ADDITIONS, NEW WORKS, BUILDINGS, &c. (ANNUAL VOTES)

3,721,000

4,173,340

4,319,562

\n```\n\n\\* Estimated further liability, £400,000. † Estimated further liability, £10,000.\n\n---\n\nBy Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":1727},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains strictly focused on its original purpose of appropriating funds for capital works and buildings for the 1937-38 financial year. The scope has not expanded beyond the specific infrastructure projects listed in the Schedule."},"complexity_factors":["Straightforward appropriation structure with only three operative sections (short title, issue of funds, and appropriation)","Detailed schedule contains 36 divisions of expenditure but presents no conditional logic, exceptions, or legal tests","No interpretation section or defined terms","Standard budget tables comparing 1937-38 allocations with previous year votes and expenditure"],"plain_english_summary":"The Act authorises the Commonwealth to withdraw £3,721,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for capital works and buildings for the year ending 30 June 1938. It funds departmental buildings and defence projects, major commercial infrastructure—especially Postmaster-General telecommunications and Commonwealth Railways—and development in the Northern Territory and the Federal Capital Territory (Canberra). \n\nIt matters because Parliament is approving targeted public investment in communications, transport, defence and territory development."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38","history":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38/history","analysis":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1937-38/documents"}}