{"id":"F2016L01191","name":"Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 85 (April 2016)","slug":"federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":94569,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L01191-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-02","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"Federal Financial Relations (General Pur","sectionType":"part","heading":"Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 85 (APRIL 2016)","content":"# Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 85 (APRIL 2016)","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"preliminary","content":"```html\n

Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 85 (APRIL 2016)

I, SCOTT JOHN MORRISON, Treasurer, make this Determination under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 19 April 2016

\n```\n\n## Part 1 — preliminary\n\n### Name of Determination\n\n This determination is the Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 85 (April 2016).\n\n### Commencement\n\n 2. This determination commences on the day on which this determination is made.\n\n### Definitions\n\n 3. The following definitions are used throughout this determination:\n\nAct means the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.\n\nCOAG Reform Fund means the COAG Reform Fund established by section 5 of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008.\n\nIntergovernmental Agreement means the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations that took effect on 1 February 2009. The Intergovernmental Agreement provides an overarching framework for financial transfers between the Commonwealth and the States and related collaboration on policy development and service delivery.\n\nState includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.\n\n### Exemption from section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003\n\n 4. Subsection 9(5) of the Act provides that this determination is a legislative instrument, but section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 does not apply to this determination.\n\n## PArt 2 — Purpose\n\n### Provision of financial assistance\n\n 5. This determination is made, in accordance with section 9 of the Act, for the purpose of providing financial support for the States’ service delivery efforts through general purpose financial assistance to be used by the States for any purpose.\n\n### Terms and conditions\n\n 6. Subsection 9(2) of the Act requires that an amount determined under subsection 9(1) must be credited to the COAG Reform Fund.\n 7. The COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 established the COAG Reform Fund and specifies that it is a Special Account for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n 8. Subsection 7(2) of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 requires that the terms and conditions on which financial assistance is granted through the COAG Reform Fund are to be set out in a written agreement between the Commonwealth and the State.\n 9. The terms and conditions for all payments of general purpose financial assistance are provided in ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the Intergovernmental Agreement. Schedule 1 to this determination provides a summary of the relevant provisions for general purpose financial assistance.\n\n## Part 3 — General Purpose Financial Assistance\n\n### Determination\n\n 10. In accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Act, the amounts specified in Table 1 are to be credited to the COAG Reform Fund before being paid on 21 April 2016 to the States specified in that table for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance to those States.\n\n### Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 21 April 2016\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n 11. Schedule 2 to this determination provides further information on these payments.\n\n### Debit limit\n\n 12. Subsection 9(3) of the Act provides that the total amount credited to the COAG Reform Fund for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance in the financial year starting on 1 July 2015 must not exceed $5,000,000,000.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2015-16 financial year in respect of general purpose financial assistance, including this determination.\n\n### Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2015-16\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2015-16 financial year does not exceed the debit limit.","sortOrder":1},{"sectionNumber":"Name of Determination","sectionType":"division","heading":"Name of Determination","content":"### Name of Determination\n\n This determination is the Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 85 (April 2016).","sortOrder":2},{"sectionNumber":"Commencement","sectionType":"division","heading":"Commencement","content":"### Commencement\n\n 2. This determination commences on the day on which this determination is made.","sortOrder":3},{"sectionNumber":"Definitions","sectionType":"division","heading":"Definitions","content":"### Definitions\n\n 3. The following definitions are used throughout this determination:\n\nAct means the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.\n\nCOAG Reform Fund means the COAG Reform Fund established by section 5 of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008.\n\nIntergovernmental Agreement means the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations that took effect on 1 February 2009. The Intergovernmental Agreement provides an overarching framework for financial transfers between the Commonwealth and the States and related collaboration on policy development and service delivery.\n\nState includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.","sortOrder":4},{"sectionNumber":"Exemption from section 42 (disallowance)","sectionType":"division","heading":"Exemption from section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003","content":"### Exemption from section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003\n\n 4. Subsection 9(5) of the Act provides that this determination is a legislative instrument, but section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 does not apply to this determination.","sortOrder":5},{"sectionNumber":"PArt 2","sectionType":"part","heading":"Purpose","content":"```html\n

Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 85 (APRIL 2016)

I, SCOTT JOHN MORRISON, Treasurer, make this Determination under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 19 April 2016

\n```\n\n## Part 1 — preliminary\n\n### Name of Determination\n\n This determination is the Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 85 (April 2016).\n\n### Commencement\n\n 2. This determination commences on the day on which this determination is made.\n\n### Definitions\n\n 3. The following definitions are used throughout this determination:\n\nAct means the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.\n\nCOAG Reform Fund means the COAG Reform Fund established by section 5 of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008.\n\nIntergovernmental Agreement means the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations that took effect on 1 February 2009. The Intergovernmental Agreement provides an overarching framework for financial transfers between the Commonwealth and the States and related collaboration on policy development and service delivery.\n\nState includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.\n\n### Exemption from section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003\n\n 4. Subsection 9(5) of the Act provides that this determination is a legislative instrument, but section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 does not apply to this determination.\n\n## PArt 2 — Purpose\n\n### Provision of financial assistance\n\n 5. This determination is made, in accordance with section 9 of the Act, for the purpose of providing financial support for the States’ service delivery efforts through general purpose financial assistance to be used by the States for any purpose.\n\n### Terms and conditions\n\n 6. Subsection 9(2) of the Act requires that an amount determined under subsection 9(1) must be credited to the COAG Reform Fund.\n 7. The COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 established the COAG Reform Fund and specifies that it is a Special Account for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n 8. Subsection 7(2) of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 requires that the terms and conditions on which financial assistance is granted through the COAG Reform Fund are to be set out in a written agreement between the Commonwealth and the State.\n 9. The terms and conditions for all payments of general purpose financial assistance are provided in ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the Intergovernmental Agreement. Schedule 1 to this determination provides a summary of the relevant provisions for general purpose financial assistance.\n\n## Part 3 — General Purpose Financial Assistance\n\n### Determination\n\n 10. In accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Act, the amounts specified in Table 1 are to be credited to the COAG Reform Fund before being paid on 21 April 2016 to the States specified in that table for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance to those States.\n\n### Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 21 April 2016\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n 11. Schedule 2 to this determination provides further information on these payments.\n\n### Debit limit\n\n 12. Subsection 9(3) of the Act provides that the total amount credited to the COAG Reform Fund for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance in the financial year starting on 1 July 2015 must not exceed $5,000,000,000.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2015-16 financial year in respect of general purpose financial assistance, including this determination.\n\n### Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2015-16\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2015-16 financial year does not exceed the debit limit.","sortOrder":6},{"sectionNumber":"Provision of financial assistance","sectionType":"division","heading":"Provision of financial assistance","content":"### Provision of financial assistance\n\n 5. This determination is made, in accordance with section 9 of the Act, for the purpose of providing financial support for the States’ service delivery efforts through general purpose financial assistance to be used by the States for any purpose.","sortOrder":7},{"sectionNumber":"Terms and conditions","sectionType":"division","heading":"Terms and conditions","content":"### Terms and conditions\n\n 6. Subsection 9(2) of the Act requires that an amount determined under subsection 9(1) must be credited to the COAG Reform Fund.\n 7. The COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 established the COAG Reform Fund and specifies that it is a Special Account for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n 8. Subsection 7(2) of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 requires that the terms and conditions on which financial assistance is granted through the COAG Reform Fund are to be set out in a written agreement between the Commonwealth and the State.\n 9. The terms and conditions for all payments of general purpose financial assistance are provided in ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the Intergovernmental Agreement. Schedule 1 to this determination provides a summary of the relevant provisions for general purpose financial assistance.","sortOrder":8},{"sectionNumber":"Part 3","sectionType":"part","heading":"General Purpose Financial Assistance","content":"```html\n

Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 85 (APRIL 2016)

I, SCOTT JOHN MORRISON, Treasurer, make this Determination under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 19 April 2016

\n```\n\n## Part 1 — preliminary\n\n### Name of Determination\n\n This determination is the Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 85 (April 2016).\n\n### Commencement\n\n 2. This determination commences on the day on which this determination is made.\n\n### Definitions\n\n 3. The following definitions are used throughout this determination:\n\nAct means the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009.\n\nCOAG Reform Fund means the COAG Reform Fund established by section 5 of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008.\n\nIntergovernmental Agreement means the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations that took effect on 1 February 2009. The Intergovernmental Agreement provides an overarching framework for financial transfers between the Commonwealth and the States and related collaboration on policy development and service delivery.\n\nState includes the Australian Capital Territory and the Northern Territory.\n\n### Exemption from section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003\n\n 4. Subsection 9(5) of the Act provides that this determination is a legislative instrument, but section 42 (disallowance) of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 does not apply to this determination.\n\n## PArt 2 — Purpose\n\n### Provision of financial assistance\n\n 5. This determination is made, in accordance with section 9 of the Act, for the purpose of providing financial support for the States’ service delivery efforts through general purpose financial assistance to be used by the States for any purpose.\n\n### Terms and conditions\n\n 6. Subsection 9(2) of the Act requires that an amount determined under subsection 9(1) must be credited to the COAG Reform Fund.\n 7. The COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 established the COAG Reform Fund and specifies that it is a Special Account for the purposes of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.\n 8. Subsection 7(2) of the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 requires that the terms and conditions on which financial assistance is granted through the COAG Reform Fund are to be set out in a written agreement between the Commonwealth and the State.\n 9. The terms and conditions for all payments of general purpose financial assistance are provided in ‘Schedule D — Payment Arrangements’ to the Intergovernmental Agreement. Schedule 1 to this determination provides a summary of the relevant provisions for general purpose financial assistance.\n\n## Part 3 — General Purpose Financial Assistance\n\n### Determination\n\n 10. In accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Act, the amounts specified in Table 1 are to be credited to the COAG Reform Fund before being paid on 21 April 2016 to the States specified in that table for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance to those States.\n\n### Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 21 April 2016\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n 11. Schedule 2 to this determination provides further information on these payments.\n\n### Debit limit\n\n 12. Subsection 9(3) of the Act provides that the total amount credited to the COAG Reform Fund for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance in the financial year starting on 1 July 2015 must not exceed $5,000,000,000.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2015-16 financial year in respect of general purpose financial assistance, including this determination.\n\n### Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2015-16\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2015-16 financial year does not exceed the debit limit.","sortOrder":9},{"sectionNumber":"Determination","sectionType":"division","heading":"Determination","content":"### Determination\n\n 10. In accordance with subsection 9(1) of the Act, the amounts specified in Table 1 are to be credited to the COAG Reform Fund before being paid on 21 April 2016 to the States specified in that table for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance to those States.","sortOrder":10},{"sectionNumber":"Table 1: General Purpose financial assis","sectionType":"division","heading":"Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 21 April 2016","content":"### Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 21 April 2016\n\n![](image.001.png)\n\n 11. Schedule 2 to this determination provides further information on these payments.","sortOrder":11},{"sectionNumber":"Debit limit","sectionType":"division","heading":"Debit limit","content":"### Debit limit\n\n 12. Subsection 9(3) of the Act provides that the total amount credited to the COAG Reform Fund for the purpose of making a grant of general purpose financial assistance in the financial year starting on 1 July 2015 must not exceed $5,000,000,000.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2015-16 financial year in respect of general purpose financial assistance, including this determination.","sortOrder":12},{"sectionNumber":"Table 2: Total cumulative payments of ge","sectionType":"division","heading":"Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2015-16","content":"### Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2015-16\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2015-16 financial year does not exceed the debit limit.","sortOrder":13},{"sectionNumber":"SChedule 1","sectionType":"part","heading":null,"content":"# SChedule 1\n\n## Summary of relevant agreements for general purpose financial assistance\n\n| Payment title | Purpose | Relevant agreement |\n| -------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Compensation for impact on royalties of excise amendment | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to compensate Western Australia for the loss of royalty revenue resulting from the removal in the 2008-09 Budget of the exemption of condensate from crude oil excise. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| ACT Municipal Services | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to the Australian Capital Territory to:• assist in meeting the additional municipal costs which arise from Canberra's role as the national capital; and• compensate the Australian Capital Territory for additional costs resulting from the national capital planning influences on the provision of water and sewerage services. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| Royalty payments | | |\n| — Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to Western Australia from royalties payable under the Offshore Petroleum (Royalty) Act 2006 in respect of the North West Shelf oil and gas project off the coast of Western Australia. The Commonwealth collects these royalties because it has jurisdiction over off‑shore areas.These royalties will be shared between the Commonwealth (approximately one third) and Western Australia (approximately two thirds). These payment arrangements are in accordance with section 75 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| — Ranger Project Area | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to the Northern Territory in lieu of royalties on uranium mining due to the Commonwealth's ownership of uranium in the Northern Territory. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |","sortOrder":14},{"sectionNumber":"Summary of relevant agreements for gener","sectionType":"part","heading":"Summary of relevant agreements for general purpose financial assistance","content":"## Summary of relevant agreements for general purpose financial assistance\n\n| Payment title | Purpose | Relevant agreement |\n| -------------------------------------------------------- | ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- | -------------------------------------------------------------------- |\n| Compensation for impact on royalties of excise amendment | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to compensate Western Australia for the loss of royalty revenue resulting from the removal in the 2008-09 Budget of the exemption of condensate from crude oil excise. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| ACT Municipal Services | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to the Australian Capital Territory to:• assist in meeting the additional municipal costs which arise from Canberra's role as the national capital; and• compensate the Australian Capital Territory for additional costs resulting from the national capital planning influences on the provision of water and sewerage services. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| Royalty payments | | |\n| — Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to Western Australia from royalties payable under the Offshore Petroleum (Royalty) Act 2006 in respect of the North West Shelf oil and gas project off the coast of Western Australia. The Commonwealth collects these royalties because it has jurisdiction over off‑shore areas.These royalties will be shared between the Commonwealth (approximately one third) and Western Australia (approximately two thirds). These payment arrangements are in accordance with section 75 of the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\n| — Ranger Project Area | The Commonwealth provides general purpose financial assistance to the Northern Territory in lieu of royalties on uranium mining due to the Commonwealth's ownership of uranium in the Northern Territory. | Schedule D – Payment arrangements of the Intergovernmental Agreement |","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 2","sectionType":"part","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 2\n\n## Amounts of general purpose financial assistance on 21 April 2016 ($)\n\n![](image.003.png)","sortOrder":16},{"sectionNumber":"Amounts of general purpose financial ass","sectionType":"part","heading":"Amounts of general purpose financial assistance on 21 April 2016 ($)","content":"## Amounts of general purpose financial assistance on 21 April 2016 ($)\n\n![](image.003.png)","sortOrder":17}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination implements a routine, instance-specific transfer of funds under the existing Federal Financial Relations framework. It does not expand the legal scope of general purpose financial assistance beyond the powers and mechanisms already provided by the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009, the COAG Reform Fund Act 2008, or the Intergovernmental Agreement (Schedule D). The instrument records payments and checks the statutory debit limit for 2015–16; it does not add new categories of recipients, new conditions on use, or new policy directions beyond the established framework."},"complexity_factors":["Short, single-purpose instrument (one-off payment) rather than a multi-part reform","7 defined or cross-referenced terms (Act, COAG Reform Fund, Intergovernmental Agreement, State plus references to COAG Reform Fund Act 2008 and PGPA Act)","Multiple cross-references to external instruments: Federal Financial Relations Act 2009, COAG Reform Fund Act 2008, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Intergovernmental Agreement (Schedule D) — implementing detail resides outside this determination","Two schedules and two tables containing numerical allocations and cumulative totals (images/tables) rather than in-text figures","A statutory debit limit check and cumulative accounting requirement (cl. 12–14) adds conditional logic","An exemption from disallowance (cl. 4) changes usual legislative scrutiny, requiring attention by readers"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanics)\n\n- This is a Treasurer's determination under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 that instructs the Commonwealth to credit specified amounts to the COAG Reform Fund (a special-purpose Commonwealth bank account) and to pay those amounts on 21 April 2016 to the States as \"general purpose financial assistance.\" (see cl. 10, cl. 6–9, cl. 2)\n\n- The determination lists the amounts to be paid to each State and the Northern Territory/Australian Capital Territory in a table (Schedule 2 / Table 1). It also shows cumulative payments for the 2015–16 year to demonstrate the payments do not exceed the statutory debit limit of $5,000,000,000 for that year. (see cl. 10, cl. 12–14 and Schedule 2)\n\n- The payments are \"general purpose\": the recipient States may use the money for any purpose. The legal and administrative terms for payments are set out in Schedule D (Payment Arrangements) of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations, and the COAG Reform Fund Act requires the Commonwealth and a State to record terms in a written agreement. (see cl. 5, cl. 8–9)\n\n- The instrument is a legislative instrument but is expressly exempted from parliamentary disallowance under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003, meaning Parliament cannot disallow it under section 42 of that Act. (see cl. 4)\n\nWho this affects\n\n- Primary recipients: the Australian States and the two Territories (ACT and NT). The determination specifies payments to each jurisdiction. (see cl. 3 for definition of \"State,\" cl. 10 and Schedule 2)\n\n- The Commonwealth Government: makes the transfers and credits the COAG Reform Fund as the delivery mechanism. The Treasurer is the decision-maker under the Act. (see opening recital and cl. 10)\n\nWhy it matters (purpose claims and mechanical implications)\n\n- Stated purpose: to provide financial support for States' service delivery efforts by transferring funds the States can use for any purpose (general purpose financial assistance). (see cl. 5)\n\n- Mechanically, the measure increases State cash balances and reduces Commonwealth cash or available appropriation to the same extent. Because the assistance is general purpose (no ring-fencing of use), it changes the States' resource constraint without imposing specific Commonwealth program rules.\n\n- The determination operates inside an existing framework: the Intergovernmental Agreement (Schedule D) governs payment mechanics and any written agreement between Commonwealth and a State sets the terms and conditions for payments processed through the COAG Reform Fund. (see cl. 7–9)\n\nCosts, incentives and implementation trade-offs (mechanisms, not judgments)\n\n- Who pays and who benefits: the Commonwealth (taxpayers broadly) funds the transfers; benefits are concentrated in the recipient States. (see cl. 10 and Schedule 2)\n\n- Conditionality and behavioural effect: because the assistance is expressly \"general purpose,\" the States face few (if any) Commonwealth-imposed constraints on how the money is spent. That increases State discretion over spending choices. (see cl. 5)\n\n- Opportunity cost and fiscal effect: funds used for these payments are not available for other Commonwealth priorities; the determination must respect the statutory debit limit for the financial year, which caps cumulative general purpose payments at $5 billion for 2015–16. (see cl. 12–14)\n\n- Administrative and compliance features: the COAG Reform Fund is a Special Account (PGPA Act framework) and the payments must be credited to that account before being paid. Terms are recorded in written agreements and the Intergovernmental Agreement. Implementation depends on account-crediting and agreement processes. (see cl. 6–9)\n\n- Parliamentary scrutiny: the exemption from the Legislative Instruments Act disallowance provision reduces one avenue of parliamentary oversight of this specific determination. (see cl. 4)\n\nConcrete examples of items covered under the payment arrangements (Schedule 1 summary)\n\n- The instrument re-states existing payment arrangements that are routinely delivered as general purpose assistance: e.g. compensation to Western Australia for certain lost royalty revenue (excise-related), special municipal services funding to the ACT linked to national capital responsibilities, and royalty sharing arrangements for offshore petroleum and specific arrangements for the Ranger (uranium) project area in the NT. Those arrangements are implemented through the same Schedule D framework. (see Schedule 1)\n\nKey citations in the instrument: definitions and roles (where to look)\n\n- Definitions: cl. 3 (Act; COAG Reform Fund; Intergovernmental Agreement; State)\n- Purpose and general use: cl. 5\n- Account mechanics and written-agreement requirement: cl. 6–9\n- Payment instruction and schedule of amounts: cl. 10, Schedule 2\n- Debit limit and cumulative payments: cl. 12–14\n- Disallowance exemption: cl. 4\n\nBottom line (plain): This is a Treasurer-made, one-off payment determination that routes specific sums through the COAG Reform Fund to the States as unconditional financial assistance on 21 April 2016. It operates within the Intergovernmental Agreement framework and is subject to a statutory annual limit; Parliament cannot disallow this particular determination under the usual disallowance procedure.**"},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This determination operates exactly as intended by the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 — it is a routine, periodic instrument authorising specific GST-related and compensation payments to states. The scope remains tightly constrained to the Act's purpose of facilitating federal financial transfers."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section (Act, COAG Reform Fund, Intergovernmental Agreement, State)","Straightforward structure: preliminary provisions, purpose, determination of amounts, schedules","No nested exceptions or conditional logic — the rules are direct (money goes to Fund, then to States, subject to a simple annual cap)","References to external documents (Intergovernmental Agreement Schedule D, COAG Reform Fund Act) but doesn't incorporate complex machinery","Duplicate content in the source text (appears to be HTML rendering artifacts) makes the document seem longer than it actually is functionally","Primary complexity comes from understanding the intergovernmental financial framework rather than the legislative drafting itself"],"plain_english_summary":"This determination authorises the Commonwealth to pay specified amounts of general‑purpose financial assistance to States and Territories (on 21 April 2016) via the COAG Reform Fund, with total 2015–16 payments capped at $5 billion. It affects all state/territory governments (including specific adjustments for WA, the ACT and NT) and matters because it delivers flexible, untied federal funding — and is exempt from parliamentary disallowance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016","history":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-85-april-2016/documents"}}