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Commonwealth act
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
What is this?
This is a Supply Act — a type of temporary funding law that allows the federal government to keep paying its bills when a full annual budget (called an "Appropriation Act") hasn't yet been passed. Think of it like a stop-gap credit card approval that lets the government spend money while it sorts out its full budget for the year.
What does it actually do?
It authorises the Commonwealth Treasurer to draw $404,973,000 (just over $404 million in 1973 dollars — roughly equivalent to several billion dollars today) out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund (the government's main bank account, funded by taxes and other revenue). That money is earmarked for capital works and services across Commonwealth departments for the financial year ending 30 June 1974.
Who does it affect?
Virtually every corner of the federal government. The money is spread across 31 departments and services, including:
Want the full deep dive?
Zoe can write the in-depth analysis on top of the summary above: how it works, who it affects and what each part actually does.
Direct links to the current provisions in Supply Act (No. 2) 1973-74.
Zoe has indexed the source text for search and analysis. Use the official register for the original document and download formats.
View on official registerSourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
Why does it matter?
Without this Act, the government would have no legal authority to spend money — the Australian Constitution (section 83) requires that money only be drawn from the Treasury under a law passed by Parliament (called an "appropriation"). This Act is that legal permission slip, specifically for capital spending (i.e., buying assets, building things, and making loans) rather than day-to-day running costs.
It also reflects the priorities of the Whitlam Labor government in 1973, with notable funding flowing to newer departments like Urban and Regional Development, the Environment and Conservation, and the Media — departments that were created as part of that government's reform agenda.