//
© 2026 Zoe. All rights reserved.
Zoe is a legal information platform. Always consult the Federal Register of Legislation for authoritative text.
Commonwealth act
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
This January 1918 Supply Act is a stop-gap budget authorizing £1,211,615 from the Consolidated Revenue Fund to keep the Commonwealth running until the full appropriation is passed. It empowers the Treasurer to release funds for day‑to‑day government operations—including military, postal and parliamentary services—with a hard cutoff of 30 June 1918. Significant war spending underscores its role in sustaining Australia’s WWI commitments while Parliament finalised the annual budget.
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. 4) 1917-18.
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
THE COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA.
SUPPLY (No. 4) 1917–18.
No. 1 of 1918.
An Act to grant and apply a sum out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the service of the year ending the thirtieth day of June One thousand nine hundred and eighteen.
[Assented to 11th January, 1918.]
Preamble.
BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, for the purpose of appropriating the grant originated in the House of Representatives, as follows:—
Short title.
Issue and application of £1,211,615.
Sums available for the purposes set forth in Schedule.
Limit of period of expenditure.
[5d.] F.578.
SCHEDULE.
ABSTRACT.
| — | Total. |
|---|---|
| £ | |
| THE PARLIAMENT.......................................... | 4,179 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF PRIME MINISTER.......................... | 12,057 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY........................... | 40,245 |
| THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT....................... | 6,440 |
| THE HOME AND TERRITORIES DEPARTMENT...................... | 90,666 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF DEFENCE—MILITARY...................... | 99,905 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF THE NAVY............................... | 119,345 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF TRADE AND CUSTOMS..................... | 47,198 |
| THE DEPARTMENT OF WORKS AND RAILWAYS.................... | 40,750 |
| THE POSTMASTER-GENERAL’S DEPARTMENT..................... | 418,800 |
| WAR SERVICES............................................. | 287,030 |
| 1,166,615 |
| REFUNDS OF REVENUE...................................... | 45,000 |
| Total | 1,211,615 |
Schedule—continued.
<table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="border-collapse:collapse"><tbody><tr style="height:73.95pt"><td style="width:23.25pt; height:73.95pt; writing-mode:tb-rl; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:middle"><div style="height:73.95pt; writing-mode:tb-rl"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:10pt"><span>Division No.</span></p></div></td><td style="width:23pt; height:73.95pt; writing-mode:tb-rl; border:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><div style="height:73.95pt; writing-mode:tb-rl"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:10pt"><span>Subdivision No.</span></p></div></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>I.—THE PARLIAMENT.</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:italic">£</span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span style="font-style:italic">£</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>...</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>T</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">he</span><span> S</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">enate</span><span>.</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Salaries</span><span style="width:257.18pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">......................................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>413</span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Contingencies</span><span style="width:229.07pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..................................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>50</span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Postage and Telegrams</span><span style="width:189.98pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">............................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>60</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>523</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>...</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>H</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">ouse</span><span> </span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">of</span><span> R</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">epresentatives</span><span>.</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Salaries</span><span style="width:257.18pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">......................................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>560</span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Contingencies</span><span style="width:229.07pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">..................................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>200</span></p></td><td style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:justify; font-size:11pt"><span>Postage and Telegrams</span><span style="width:189.98pt; font-family:'Lucida Console', monospace; display:inline-block">............................</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>200</span></p></td><td rowspan="2" style="width:49.05pt; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:2pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:middle"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span>960</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:23pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td><td style="width:287.95pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:center; font-size:11pt"><span>S</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">enate</span><span> </span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">and</span><span> H</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">ouse</span><span> </span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">of</span><span> R</span><span style="font-variant:small-caps">epresentatives</span><span>.</span></p></td><td style="width:48.15pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; border-left:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:1.62pt; vertical-align:bottom"><p style="margin-right:7.2pt; text-align:right; font-size:11pt"><span></span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:23.25pt; border-right:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:1.62pt; padding-left:2pt; vertical-align:top"><p style="text-align:cent
This is an opening excerpt, not the complete document.