Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

HOUSING ASSISTANCE ACT 1996 - SECT 9

             (1)  The Minister must not authorise a payment to a State of financial assistance in respect of an assistance year unless the Minister and the State Minister have agreed, in accordance with the inter‑government housing agreement made between the Commonwealth and the State, as to the amount of State housing expenditure in respect of the year.

             (2)  If the Minister, after consulting a State Minister, believes that the State will not spend, in respect of a particular assistance year from its own financial resources, the total amount agreed under subsection (1) to be so spent by the State, the Minister may reduce the amount that would otherwise be payable to the State under section 7 in respect of that assistance year by the amount of the shortfall.

             (3)  If, under subsection (2), the Minister reduces the amount that would otherwise be payable to a State, the Minister may authorise the payment of an amount or amounts to another State or other States for the purposes of providing housing assistance, provided that the amount, or the total of the amounts, does not exceed the amount of the reduction.

             (4)  An authorisation under subsection (3) of the payment of an amount to a State is to set out the way in which the amount is to be spent.

             (5)  Payments under subsection (3) are to be made on any terms and conditions that the Minister determines to be appropriate.