Smoothcriminal said:
Mr Medved said:
Smoothcriminal said:
The Australian debt ceiling (amount we are allowed to borrow) was raised from 75 billion to 250 billion by the Labor government - quietly on budget night while people were distracted.
Link?
Check the bloomberg link in the opening post.
It's not authoritative. However, I did find the offending bill:
Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2011-2012
http://parlinfo.aph.gov.au/parlInfo...toc_pdf/11075b01.pdf;fileType=application/pdf
Amendment of the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911
18 Amendments
(1) Subsection 5(1) of the Commonwealth Inscribed Stock Act 1911 is amended by omitting "$75" and substituting "$250".
Apparently it received Royal Assent on the 29th of June of this year. These goons have more than tripled the "debt limit". I don't recall this getting much press but this is a huge story.
The COMMONWEALTH INSCRIBED STOCK ACT 1911 can be found here:
http://www.austlii.edu.au/au/legis/cth/consol_act/cisa1911288/
An Act to provide for the issue of Stock, Bonds and other Securities by the Commonwealth and for other purposes
COMMONWEALTH INSCRIBED STOCK ACT 1911 - SECT 4
Power to create stock
(1)
The GovernorGeneral may, by writing signed by him or her, create stock, Treasury Bonds, Treasury Notes or other prescribed securities from time to time for:
(a) raising money by way of loan; or
(b) converting any loan raised by the Commonwealth into any other loan so raised; or
(c) paying any expenses of carrying this Act into effect that the GovernorGeneral considers are properly payable out of capital; or
(d) lending by the Treasurer under securities lending arrangements under section 5BA of the Loans Securities Act 1919 .
(2) Stock created pursuant to paragraph (1)(a) shall not be issued or sold unless:
(a) authority to borrow the moneys to be raised by the issue or sale is granted by section 3A of this Act or by any other Act; or
(b) the issue or sale is for the purpose of carrying out an obligation of the Commonwealth under the Financial Agreement.
COMMONWEALTH INSCRIBED STOCK ACT 1911 - SECT 5
Limit on stock and securities on issue
(1) The total face value of stock and securities on issue under this Act and the Loans Securities Act 1919 at any time must not exceed $75 billion.
Amendment history for Section 5:
am. No. 26, 1915
rep. No. 18, 1963
ad. No. 78, 2008
The amendment in 2008 was due to the COMMONWEALTH SECURITIES AND INVESTMENT LEGISLATION AMENDMENT ACT 2008 (NO. 78, 2008). Bizarrely, it appears the Bill was introduced after the 2007 election (though this is not 100% confirmed), although it could have been a departing shot from Howard/Costello.