1.5 Financial control
One of the most essential constitutional legacies inherited from the Westminster Parliament is the Lower House's control of public finances. The laws and controls relevant to Queensland today can be summarised as follows:
- Tax cannot be levied without the consent of Parliament.
- The Executive cannot borrow money upon the public credit without legislative authority.
- While money raised by taxation and other revenue vests in the Crown, no money can be paid from the money collected without a distinct authorisation of Parliament. Revenues collected are deposited in the Consolidated Fund. The Bill approving expenditure to be deducted from the Consolidated Fund is called an Appropriation Bill.
- There are laws providing for the audit and account of public expenditure, including a requirement that at the end of each financial year the Treasurer must forward a statement of all transactions on the public accounts (including the public debt), to the Auditor - General for certification and that the statement of accounts be laid before the Table of the House. This statement is known as the Treasurer's Annual Statement.
Section 18 of the Constitution Act 1867 (Qld) provides that the Governor must first recommend a Bill that seeks to expend money from the Consolidated Fund. Thus, the Executive also controls public expenditure.
In addition, no amendment may be made to a Bill, which increases the burden on the taxpayer, without it beingrecommended by the Governor.
Last reviewed: 17 July, 2009
Last updated: 22 July, 2009
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