{"id":"C1917A00040","name":"Ministers of State Act 1917","slug":"ministers-of-state-act-1917","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"repealed","isInForce":false,"actNumber":"40 of 1917","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":18776,"registerId":"commonwealth-C1917A00040-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"Repealed","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Ministers of State Act 1917","content":"MINISTERS OF STATE.\n\nNo. 40 of 1917.\n\nAn Act to increase the maximum number of Ministers of State from eight to nine and to increase the amount appropriated for their salaries from Thirteen thousand six hundred and fifty pounds to Fifteen thousand three hundred pounds.\n\n\\[Assented to 28th September, 1917.\n\nBE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—\n\nShort title.\n\n1. This Act may be cited as the Ministers of State Act 1917.\n\nRepeal.\n\n2. The Ministers of State Act 1915 is repealed.\n\nNumber of Ministers.\n\n3. The number of Ministers of State may exceed seven but shall not exceed nine.\n\nSalaries of Ministers.\n\n4. There shall be payable to the King, out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund of the Commonwealth, which is hereby appropriated accordingly, for the salaries of the Ministers of State, an annual sum up to but not exceeding Fifteen thousand three hundred pounds.","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"_metrics":{"model":"kimi-k2.5","source":"moonshot-batch","completionTokens":1651},"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":1,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains its original narrow purpose of setting the statutory maximum number of Ministers and the total annual appropriation for their salaries, merely updating the numerical limits from the 1915 Act."},"complexity_factors":["Only 4 sections with no subsections or schedules","No defined terms or interpretation section","No cross-references to other legislation (except repeal of predecessor)","Straightforward numerical amendments without conditions, exceptions, or procedural requirements"],"plain_english_summary":"This short law allows the Australian Government to appoint more ministers and pays them more collectively.\n\n**What it changes:**\n- **Increases the ministry size**: The government can now have up to **9 Ministers** instead of the previous limit of 8 (the text says the number \"may exceed seven but shall not exceed nine\")\n- **Increases the salary budget**: The total amount available for ministerial salaries rises from £13,650 to **£15,300 per year**, paid from Commonwealth revenue\n- **Replaces the old law**: The Ministers of State Act 1915 is repealed\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis is an administrative adjustment to accommodate an additional minister in cabinet, likely reflecting the expanding scope of government during the First World War. It simply updates the headcount and budget limits set in the previous legislation."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917","history":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917/history","analysis":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/ministers-of-state-act-1917/documents"}}