4Approval of, and directions relating to, building projects

4 Approval of, and directions relating to, building projects

(1) For the purposes of this Act, the Minister:

(a) may approve a building project (other than a minor building project) submitted to him by a university as an approved building project of the university in respect of a year to which this Act applies;

(b) may approve a building project (other than a minor building project) submitted to him by a State as an approved building project of a college of advanced education in respect of a year to which this Act applies;

(c) may approve a building project (other than a minor building project) submitted to him by a State as an approved building project of a technical and further education institution in respect of a year to which this Act applies; and

(d) may direct that information included in a specified class of information be furnished to the Commission in respect of building projects included in a specified class of building projects at such times and in such manner as are specified in the direction.

(2) The building projects that may be approved by the Minister under subsection (1) in respect of a year to which this Act applies are building projects additional to the building projects specified in whichever of Schedules 7, 7A and 7B is applicable to that year. (3) Where the Minister approves a building project under subsection (1) in respect of a year to which this Act applies, the Minister shall also approve:

(a) an amount as the maximum Commonwealth contribution towards the project, being so much of the amount estimated by him to be the cost of the project as he determines to be the appropriate Commonwealth contribution towards the project; and

(b) an amount of expenditure, not exceeding the estimated expenditure on the project in respect of that year, as the amount of the approved expenditure on the project in respect of that year.

(4) As soon as practicable after the Minister has approved a building project under subsection (1) in respect of a year to which this Act applies, the Minister shall cause a statement specifying the project, the maximum Commonwealth contribution towards the project and the approved expenditure on the project in respect of that year to be laid before each House of the Parliament. (5) For the purposes of this Act, where information is furnished to the Commission in accordance with a direction under paragraph (1)(d) with respect to a building project of a university, or with respect to a building project of a college of advanced education, a non‑government teachers college or a technical and further education institution, in a State, being a building project specified in Schedule 7, Schedule 7A or Schedule 7B or a minor building project approved by the Commission in respect of a year to which this Act applies, the Commission shall, after consideration of that information, give directions to the university, or to the State, as the case may be, with respect to the manner in which the project is to be carried out. (6) The Minister may vary or revoke an approval or direction given by him under this section and the Commission may vary or revoke a direction given by it under this section.