5Meaning of special assistance

5 Meaning of special assistance

(1) References in this Act to the grant of special assistance to a State shall be read as references to the grant of financial assistance to a State for the purpose of making it possible for the State, by reasonable effort, to function at a standard not appreciably below the standards of other States. (1A) References in this Act to the grant of special assistance to the Australian Capital Territory shall be read as references to the grant of financial assistance to that Territory for the purpose of making it possible for that Territory, having regard to the special circumstances arising from the location in it of the national capital and the seat of Government of the Commonwealth, by reasonable effort, to function in respect of matters for which the Australian Capital Territory Executive has responsibility, at standards not appreciably below the standards of the States and the Northern Territory. (2) References in this Act to the grant of special assistance to the Northern Territory shall be read as references to the grant of financial assistance to that Territory for the purpose of making it possible for that Territory, by reasonable effort, to function, in respect of matters for which the Ministers of that Territory have executive authority, at standards not appreciably below the standards of the States.