{"id":"C1939A00067","name":"Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1939-40","slug":"appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"67 of 1939","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":4133,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1939A00067-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-03-30","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Short title","content":"1. This Act may be cited as the Appropriation (Works and Buildings) Act 1939–40.\n\nCommencement.\n\n","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"2","sectionType":"section","heading":"Commencement","content":"2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.\n\nIssue and application of £3,534,000.\n\n3. 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 forty the sum of Three million five hundred and thirty-four thousand pounds.\n\nAppropriation.\n\n","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"4","sectionType":"section","heading":"Appropriation","content":"4. 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 forty.\n\nTHE\n\nF.7597.—Price 8d.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Sch Schedule","sectionType":"schedule","heading":null,"content":"THE SCHEDULE. Sec. 4.\n\n---\n\nABSTRACT.\n\n```html\n

Page Reference.

—

1939–40.

1938–39.

Increase on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

3

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

1,036,000

2,105,000

1,983,169

..

947,169

11

Part II.—Business Undertakings....................

1,446,000

4,092,000

3,842,955

..

2,396,955

13

Part III.—Territories of the Commonwealth............

1,052,000

845,000

739,144

312,856

..

TOTAL ADDITIONS, NEW WORKS, BUILDINGS, ETC..

3,534,000

7,042,000

6,565,268

..

3,031,268

\n```\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Part Part I","sectionType":"part","heading":"Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth","content":"PART I.—Departments and Services—other than Business Undertakings and Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1939–40.

1938–39.

Increase on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

1

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

1,400

7,000

12,426

..

11,026

1a–2

PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT...............

2,900

3,600

8,502

..

5,602

3

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS...........

50

100

30

20

..

4–5

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY...............

4,950

13,182

14,101

..

9,151

6

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT...........

125,000

2,500

1,288

123,712

..

7

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR................

279,400

148,600

138,170

141,230

..

8

WAR SERVICE HOMES COMMISSION.............

30,000

135,000

104,762

..

74,762

8a–8j

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE

..

1,046,465

1,045,920

..

1,045,920

8k–8l

DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT....

..

303,203

303,203

..

303,203

9–12

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION..............

486,000

269,100

245,536

240,464

..

13

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.........

12,000

29,000

20,728

..

8,728

14

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH

20,000

47,000

35,213

..

15,213

15

DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION...............

50,000

78,000

36,396

13,604

..

16–17

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE

24,300

22,250

16,894

7,406

..

TOTAL PART I.........................

1,036,000

2,105,000

1,983,169

..

947,169

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

PARLIAMENT.

1939–40.

1938–39.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 1.

£

£

£

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

1,400

7,000

12,426

PRIME MINISTER’S DEPARTMENT.

Under Control of Department of the Prime Minister.

Division No. 1a.

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

..

..

160

Purchase of Polar Exploration ship...................

..

..

4,693

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

..

..

4,853

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 2.

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

2,900

3,600

3,649

Total Prime Minister’s Department.....

2,900

3,600

8,502

DEPARTMENT OF EXTERNAL AFFAIRS.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 3.

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

50

100

30

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

2,600

1,610

1,619

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

DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY—continued.

1939–40.

1938–39.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 5.

£

£

£

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

2,350

11,572

12,482

Total Department of the Treasury......

4,950

13,182

14,101

ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 6.

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

125,000

2,500

1,288

DEPARTMENT OF THE INTERIOR.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 7.

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

85,000

90,000

90,000

2. Australian War Memorial, Canberra—Erection of—for payment to the credit of the War Memorial, Canberra, Trust Account

(a) 75,000

5,000

5,000

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

16,025

10,200

7,253

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

28,375

22,800

8,261

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

53,700

5,000

16,074

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

11,800

4,300

396

7. Fittings and furniture..........................

6,500

7,500

7,755

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

..

3,800

3,431

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

279,400

148,600

138,170

WAR SERVICE HOMES COMMISSION.

Under Control of War Service Homes Commissioner.

Division No. 8.

1. Expenditure under War Service Homes Act 1918–1937—for payment to credit of the War Service Homes Trust Account

30,000

135,000

104,762

\n```\n\n(a) Estimated further liability, £31,000.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

1939–40.

1938–39.

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE.

Vote.

Expenditure.

CENTRAL ADMINISTRATION.

£

£

£

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 8a.

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

..

11,313

11,313

NAVAL.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 8b.

1. Naval construction and additions to fleet.............

..

292,868

292,868

Division No. 8c.

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

..

36,812

36,812

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

..

17,493

11,448

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

..

1,904

1,904

4. Equipment for port defence......................

..

35,806

42,456

Total Division No. 8c............

92,015

92,620

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 8d.

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

..

82,505

75,855

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

..

467,388

461,343

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

DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE—continued.

1939–40.

1938–39.

MILITARY.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

£

£

£

Division No. 8e.

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

..

15,980

15,980

Division No. 8f.

1. Arms, armament and ammunition, mechanization, equipment and reserves

..

189,950

189,950

Division No. 8g.

Defence works, Darwin.........................

..

7,800

7,800

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 8h.

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

..

6,267

11,767

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

..

219,997

225,497

ROYAL AUSTRALIAN AIR FORCE.

Under Control of Department of Defence.

Division No. 8i.

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

..

205,972

205,972

2. Warlike stores and equipment....................

..

54,600

54,600

Total Division No. 8i..............

..

260,572

260,572

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 8j.

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

..

87,195

87,195

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

..

347,767

347,767

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

(a)

1,046,465

1,045,920

\n```\n\n(a) Provided in 1939–40 from Loan Fund.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

DEPARTMENT OF SUPPLY AND DEVELOPMENT.

1939–40.

1938–39.

DEFENCE SUPPLIES DIVISION.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of Supply and Development.

Division No. 8k.

£

£

£

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

..

121,700

121,700

2. Reserves of raw materials.......................

..

..

..

3. Armament annexes, plant, materials and experimental work.

..

88,502

88,502

Total Division No. 8k.............

..

210,202

210,202

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 8l.

1. Buildings, works and sites, fittings and furniture—Munitions factories

..

93,001

93,001

2. Buildings, works and sites, fittings and furniture—Administrative section

..

..

..

Total Division No. 8l.............

..

93,001

93,001

Total Department of Supply and Development

(a)

303,203

303,203

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION.

INTERNAL SERVICES.

Under Control of Department of Civil Aviation.

Division No. 9.

1. Buildings and works—including grants to Councils towards cost of establishment and improvements of country aerodromes

12,000

8,000

7,998

2. Aeradio communication and direction-finding stations....

41,468

57,945

57,945

3. Aircraft, engines, vehicles and equipment.............

5,400

3,955

3,955

Total Division No. 9...............................

58,868

69,900

69,898

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 10.

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

366,406

149,264

125,702

Total Internal Services............

425,274

219,164

195,600

\n```\n\n(a) Provided in 1939–40 from Loan Fund.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

1939–40.

1938–39.

DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL AVIATION—continued.

Vote.

Expenditure

EMPIRE AIR SERVICES.

£

£

£

Under Control of Department of Civil Aviation.

Division No. 11.

1. Aeradio communication and direction-finding stations—Singapore section

12,000

(a)

..

2. Launches and equipment for flying boat bases—Singapore section

4,800

(a)

..

3. Aeradio communication and direction-finding stations—Trans-Tasman section

27,000

..

..

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

43,800

(a)

..

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 12.

1. Buildings, works and sites, including store bases and marine facilities, fittings and furniture—Singapore section

8,926

49,936

49,936

2. Buildings, works and sites, including shore bases and marine facilities, fittings and furniture—Trans-Tasman section

8,000

..

..

Total Division No. 12..............................

16,926

49,936

49,936

Total Empire Air Services...........

60,726

49,936

49,936

Total Department of Civil Aviation.....

486,000

269,100

245,536

DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 13.

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

12,000

29,000

20,728

\n```\n\n(a) Included under Division No. 12 in 1938–39.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n```html\n

1939–40.

1938–39.

DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

£

£

£

Division No. 14.

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

(a)20,000

47,000

35,213

DEPARTMENT OF REPATRIATION.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 15.

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

(b) 50,000

78,000

36,396

DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE.

Under Control of Department of Commerce.

Division No. 16.

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

8,900

3,250

2,270

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 17.

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

(c)15,400

19,000

14,624

Total Department of Commerce......

24,300

22,250

16,894

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

1,036,000

2,105,000

1,983,169

\n```\n\n(a) Estimated further liability, £57,000........................(b) Estimated further liability, £172,500. (c) Estimated further liability, £7,400.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Part Part II","sectionType":"part","heading":"Business Undertakings","content":"PART II.—Business Undertakings.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1939–40.

1938–39.

Increase on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

18

COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS

153,000

154,000

142,254

10,746

..

19

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT

1,293,000

3,938,000

3,700,701

..

2,407,701

TOTAL PART II......

1,446,000

4,092,000

3,842,955

..

2,396,955

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

1939–40.

1938–39.

COMMONWEALTH RAILWAYS.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

£

£

£

Division No. 18.

1. Trans-Australia Railway........................

115,850

105,000

104,738

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

3,600

2,000

1,730

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

27,000

15,300

27,474

4. Australian Capital Territory Railway................

550

300

100

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

6,000

31,400

8,212

Total Commonwealth Railways.......

153,000

154,000

142,254

POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT.

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

Division No. 19.

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

934,000

2,453,999

2,435,980

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

193,000

774,000

571,610

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

35,000

80,000

116,155

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

8,500

100,000

105,848

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

(a) 122,500

455,000

396,107

Subscription to Share Capital—Amalgamated Wireless (Australasia) Ltd.

..

75,001

75,001

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

1,293,000

3,938,000

3,700,701

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

1,446,000

4,092,000

3,842,955

\n```\n\n(a) Estimated further liability, £609,865.\n\n \nAdditions, New Works, Buildings, &c.\n\n","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"Part Part III","sectionType":"part","heading":"Territories of the Commonwealth","content":"PART III.—Territories of the Commonwealth.\n\nSUMMARY.\n\n```html\n

Division Number.

—

1939–40.

1938–39.

Increase on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Decrease on Expenditure, 1938–39.

Vote.

Expenditure.

£

£

£

£

£

20–21

NORTHERN TERRITORY......................................

394,000

300,000

243,980

150,020

..

22–24

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY.............................

658,000

545,000

495,164

162,836

..

TOTAL PART III...........................

1,052,000

845,000

739,144

312,856

..

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

NORTHERN TERRITORY.

1939–40.

1938–39.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Vote.

Expenditure.

Division No. 20.

£

£

£

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

(a) 327,600

286,000

239,989

2. Developmental services—Construction of water supplies, roads and stock routes for pastoral purposes

36,000

..

..

3. Metalliferous mining—Construction of batteries........

10,000

14,000

3,991

Total Division No. 20..............................

373,600

300,000

243,980

Division No. 21.

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

20,400

..

..

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

394,000

300,000

243,980

AUSTRALIAN CAPITAL TERRITORY.

Under Control of Department of the Interior.

Division No. 22.

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

540,100

401,000

290,094

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

273,500

203,000

151,407

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

3,500

10,000

12,461

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

6,200

16,000

9,606

5. Canberra Cemetery—Minor services—for payment to the credit of The Canberra Cemetery Trust Account

300

800

600

823,600

630,800

464,168

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

230,100

126,800

..

Total Division No. 22...............

(b) 593,500

504,000

464,16

Division No. 23.

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

(c) 40,000

40,000

30,690

Division No. 24.

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

(d) 24,500

1,000

306

Total Australian Capital Territory........

658,000

545,000

495,164

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

1,052,000

845,000

739,144

TOTAL ADDITIONS, NEW WORKS, BUILDINGS, ETC....

3,534,000

7,042,000

6,565,268

\n```\n\n(a) Estimated further liability, £92,500. (b) Estimated further liability, £314,000.\n\n(c) Estimated further liability, £10,000. (d) Estimated further liability £55,000.\n\n---\n\nBy Authority: L. F. Johnston, Commonwealth Government Printer, Canberra.","sortOrder":6}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-realtime","completionTokens":2738},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains focused on its original purpose of appropriating funds for capital works and buildings for the 1939-40 financial year, as set out in the long title. The detailed schedule reflects standard budgetary practice of the era without scope creep."},"complexity_factors":["Extensive tabular schedule with 24 divisions of line-item allocations across multiple departments","Historical pre-decimal currency (pounds sterling) requiring conversion context","Dual funding mechanism noted (Consolidated Revenue Fund vs Loan Fund for Defence items)","Comparative expenditure columns showing 1938-39 vote and actual spend for budget tracking"],"plain_english_summary":"This December 1939 budget law authorises the Australian Government to spend £3,534,000 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund for capital works and major purchases in 1939–40. It funds infrastructure across government agencies, national communications and rail, and development in the Northern Territory and Canberra.\n\nPassed after Australia entered World War II, it was the final pre-war capital budget and provided the legal authority for these projects (with Defence works instead funded from loans as war preparations accelerated)."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40","history":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40/history","analysis":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/appropriation-works-and-buildings-act-1939-40/documents"}}