{"id":"F2016L01569","name":"Federal Financial Relations (General purpose financial assistance) Determination No. 89 (August 2016)","slug":"federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":95236,"registerId":"commonwealth-F2016L01569-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. 89 (August 2016)","content":"# Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 89 (August 2016)","sortOrder":0},{"sectionNumber":"Part 1","sectionType":"part","heading":"preliminary","content":"```html\n

Federal Financial Relations (General Purpose Financial Assistance) Determination No. 89 (August 2016)

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

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 17 August 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. 89 (August 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 22 August 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 22 August 2016\n\n ![](image.001.png)\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 2016 must not exceed $2,083,333,333.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2016-17 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 2016\\-17\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2016\\-17 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. 89 (August 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. 89 (August 2016)

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

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 17 August 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. 89 (August 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 22 August 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 22 August 2016\n\n ![](image.001.png)\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 2016 must not exceed $2,083,333,333.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2016-17 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 2016\\-17\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2016\\-17 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. 89 (August 2016)

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

SCOTT JOHN MORRISON


Dated: 17 August 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. 89 (August 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 22 August 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 22 August 2016\n\n ![](image.001.png)\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 2016 must not exceed $2,083,333,333.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2016-17 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 2016\\-17\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2016\\-17 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 22 August 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 22 August 2016","content":"### Table 1: General Purpose financial assistance for payment on 22 August 2016\n\n ![](image.001.png)\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 2016 must not exceed $2,083,333,333.00.\n 13. The amounts specified in Table 2 are the total amounts determined in the 2016-17 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 2016-17","content":"### Table 2: Total cumulative payments of general purpose financial assistance in 2016\\-17\n\n ![](image.002.png)\n\n 14. The total amount determined for payment of general purpose financial assistance to date in the 2016\\-17 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| — Ranger Project Area | The Commonwealth will provide 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 arrangement of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\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| | | |","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| — Ranger Project Area | The Commonwealth will provide 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 arrangement of the Intergovernmental Agreement |\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| | | |","sortOrder":15},{"sectionNumber":"Schedule 2","sectionType":"part","heading":null,"content":"# Schedule 2\n\n## Amounts of general purpose financial assistance on 22 August 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 22 August 2016 ($)","content":"## Amounts of general purpose financial assistance on 22 August 2016 ($)\n\n![](image.003.png)","sortOrder":17}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":3,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This Determination implements the established mechanism under the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 to make general purpose financial transfers to the States. It does not broaden or repurpose the statutory framework: it specifies amounts, timing (22 August 2016), and confirms compliance with the statutory debit limit for 2016–17. The instrument remains within the original scope—authorising and recording unconditional payments to States under existing Acts and the Intergovernmental Agreement—rather than extending the policy remit."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument with limited substantive provisions (primarily administration and payment amounts).","4 defined terms in the definitions section (Act; COAG Reform Fund; Intergovernmental Agreement; State).","Cross-references to multiple external instruments: Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 (s9), COAG Reform Fund Act 2008, Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013, Intergovernmental Agreement (Schedule D), Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (s42).","Two schedules (Schedule 1: summary of payment arrangements; Schedule 2: amounts) plus two tables, where the monetary tables are presented as images rather than inline text.","One non-standard procedural feature: exemption from parliamentary disallowance (section 4), which affects oversight rather than operational complexity.","A single conditional numerical constraint (the debit limit for 2016–17) and a cumulative-totals check (sections 12–14)."],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does**\n\n- This is a Treasurer's Determination that instructs the Commonwealth to credit specified amounts to the COAG Reform Fund and to pay those amounts to the States and Territories as \"general purpose financial assistance\" on 22 August 2016 (see section 10). \n\n- The payments are unconditional in the sense that States may use the money \"for any purpose\" (section 5). The instrument lists the payment amounts by jurisdiction in Table 1 and in Schedule 2. \n\n- The Determination must operate within a statutory debit limit for the 2016–17 year: the total credited to the COAG Reform Fund for general purpose financial assistance for that financial year must not exceed $2,083,333,333 (sections 12–14 and Table 2). \n\n- The Determination is made under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 (the Act) and is a legislative instrument, but it is exempt from parliamentary disallowance under section 42 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (section 4). \n\n**Who it affects**\n\n- Payer: the Commonwealth (the payments are made by the Commonwealth and credited to the COAG Reform Fund first) (sections 6–7, 10). \n\n- Recipient: the States and two Territories (Australian Capital Territory and Northern Territory) — amounts are specified per jurisdiction (Table 1 and Schedule 2). \n\n- Administrators: the Treasurer exercises the formal determination power (the instrument is signed by the Treasurer). The COAG Reform Fund Act and the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations set the payment mechanics and the terms and conditions (sections 6–9 and Schedule 1 references). \n\n**Why it matters (mechanically)**\n\n- It delivers unconditional, cash transfers from the Commonwealth to States and Territories on a specified date. That changes the cash positions of both levels of government: States receive funds they can allocate without Commonwealth-imposed program conditions; the Commonwealth commits to an identifiable cash outflow within the statutory cap for the year. \n\n- The instrument relies on other legal instruments for effect: amounts are credited to the COAG Reform Fund (a Special Account under the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013) and the Intergovernmental Agreement (IGA) describes the payment arrangements (sections 6–9 and Schedule 1). \n\n**Official purpose and an operational test against costs and incentives**\n\n- Officially, the Determination is \"for the purpose of providing financial support for the States' service delivery efforts\" through general purpose financial assistance (section 5). That is an explicit purpose claim in the instrument. \n\n- Costs and opportunity costs: the Commonwealth meets the cash cost of the transfer; the money is removed from Commonwealth fiscal resources and appears as an outflow credited to the COAG Reform Fund (sections 6–7). The transfer reduces the Commonwealth's net fiscal capacity and increases the recipient States' fiscal capacity. \n\n- Effect on State incentives and autonomy: because this is general purpose assistance (usable \"for any purpose\"), it increases state-level discretion over spending choices relative to tied or conditional grants (section 5; plus IGA Schedule D is referenced for procedural terms). \n\n- Trade-offs and substitution effects: unconditional transfers can substitute for State-sourced revenue or for other Commonwealth funding; the Determination does not direct how States must use the funds, so behavioural change at the State level depends on each State's choices. \n\n- Compliance and administrative burden: the Determination imposes little ongoing compliance burden on States because the payments are not program-tied; administrative steps largely concern crediting to the COAG Reform Fund and then disbursing to States (sections 6–7, Schedule 1). \n\n- Bureaucratic discretion and oversight: the Treasurer determines amounts under the Act (s9) and this instrument is exempt from parliamentary disallowance (section 4), which reduces a Parliamentary check that would otherwise be available on legislative instruments. The COAG Reform Fund and the IGA impose procedural and agreement-based constraints (sections 6–9, Schedule 1). \n\n- Concentrated and diffuse effects: the instrument lists jurisdictional amounts (Table 1 / Schedule 2) and Schedule 1 identifies a few specific, historically rooted payments (for example, compensation to Western Australia for lost royalties after an excise change; assistance to the ACT for municipal services; certain royalty-related arrangements for the Northern Territory and WA). Those are concentrated benefits to particular jurisdictions (Schedule 1). \n\n**How the mechanics are controlled in law**\n\n- Legal basis: made under section 9 of the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009 (heading and section references). \n\n- How the money flows: amounts are first credited to the COAG Reform Fund (a Special Account) and then paid to States (sections 6–7, 10). Terms and conditions of assistance are governed by written agreements and by Schedule D (Payment Arrangements) of the Intergovernmental Agreement (sections 7–9 and Schedule 1). \n\n**Practical implications for stakeholders**\n\n- For State treasuries: an unconditional cash inflow on the listed date that increases available funds with no program reporting in this Determination. \n\n- For the Commonwealth’s finance function: obligation to credit the COAG Fund and monitor compliance with the debit limit for the year (sections 12–14). \n\n- For Parliament/public transparency: the instrument is not subject to disallowance, so there is reduced opportunity for Parliament to annul the instrument after it is made (section 4). \n\n**Key section pointers**\n\n- Purpose and authorised power: section 5 and the instrument header (made under s9 of the Act). \n- Payment mechanics and reference to the COAG Reform Fund and IGA: sections 6–9 and Schedule 1. \n- Payment amounts and timing: section 10, Table 1 and Schedule 2 (payment on 22 August 2016). \n- Debit limit and cumulative totals: sections 12–14 and Table 2. \n- Disallowance exemption: section 4.\n"},"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 serves its original intended purpose under the Federal Financial Relations Act 2009: to authorise specific general purpose financial assistance payments to States and Territories. It does not expand beyond the statutory framework established by the parent Act and operates within the established Intergovernmental Agreement structure. The scope remains limited to the specific payment tranche dated 22 August 2016 and associated reporting requirements."},"complexity_factors":["Short, focused instrument with only 14 operative sections plus 2 schedules","Only 4 defined terms in the interpretation section ('Act', 'COAG Reform Fund', 'Intergovernmental Agreement', 'State')","Straightforward purpose: authorising specific payment amounts on a specific date","References to external documents (Intergovernmental Agreement Schedule D, COAG Reform Fund Act 2008) but does not incorporate complex conditions","Simple mathematical cap: single debit limit of $2,083,333,333.00 with running total verification","No nested exceptions, conditional logic, or elaborate compliance mechanisms","Tables containing actual payment amounts are image references (image.001.png, image.002.png, image.003.png) rather than text, reducing parseable complexity","Repetitive structure due to HTML table artifacts in source, but legally simple content"],"plain_english_summary":"This ministerial determination authorises the Commonwealth to pay general-purpose financial assistance to Australian States and Territories from the COAG Reform Fund on 22 August 2016, with total 2016–17 payments capped at $2.08 billion. It affects State and Territory governments (flexible funding) and taxpayers, covers specified compensation payments including for WA, ACT and NT, is governed by Schedule D of the Intergovernmental Agreement on Federal Financial Relations, and is exempt from parliamentary disallowance."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016","history":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016/history","analysis":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/federal-financial-relations-general-purpose-financial-assistance-determination-no-89-august-2016/documents"}}