GOVERNOR-GENERAL ACT 1974

No. 16 of 1974

An Act to make provision in relation to the Salary of the Governor-General, and the Payment of Allowances to persons, and to the widows or widowers of persons, who have held the office of Governor-General.

BE IT ENACTED by the Queen, the Senate and the House of Representatives of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the Governor-General Act 1974.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Salary of Governor-General.

3. (1) The annual sum payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund for the salary of the Governor-General shall, after the commencement of this Act, be $30,000.

(2) Sub-section (1) does not have effect during the continuance in office of the person holding office as Governor-General immediately before the commencement of this Act.

Allowances.

4. (1) Subject to sub-section (4), where, after the commencement of this Act, a person ceases to hold office as Governor-General, an allowance is payable under this section to him during his life-time at such rate as is from time to time payable under sub-section (3).

(2) Subject to sub-section (4), where, after the commencement of this Act, a person who is Governor-General dies, or a person who has at any time after the commencement of this Act held office as Governor-General dies, an allowance is payable under this section to the widow or widower of the person during the life-time of the widow or widower, or until the widow or widower re-marries, at such rate as is from time to time payable under sub-section (3).

(3) The rate of the allowance payable to a person under this section at any time is—

(a) in the case of a person who has held office as Governor-General—a rate equal to 60 per centum of the rate of the salary payable to the Chief Justice of Australia at that time; or

(b) in the case of a person who is the widow or widower of a Governor-General or of a person who has held office as Governor-General—a rate equal to five-eighths of the rate applicable under paragraph (a) at that time to a person who has held office as Governor-General.

(4)  The amount of the allowance that, but for this sub-section, would be payable to a person under this section in respect of any period shall be reduced by the amount of any pension or retiring allowance payable to that person, whether by virtue of a law or otherwise, in respect of that period out of moneys provided in whole or in part by Australia, a State or a Territory.

Appropriation.

5. An allowance under section 4 is payable out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is appropriated accordingly.

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