Meteorology Act 1955

Prepared by the Office of Parliamentary Counsel, Canberra Meteorology Act 1955 No. 6, 1955 as amended Compilation start date: 11 September 2014 Includes amendments up to: Act No. 102, 2014 ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 About this compilation This compilation This is a compilation of the Meteorology Act 1955 as in force on11 September 2014. It includes any commenced amendment affecting the legislation to that date. This compilation was prepared on 16 September 2014. The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of each amended provision. Uncommenced amendments The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in the endnotes. Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments If the operation of a provision or amendment is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes. Modifications If a provision of the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details are included in the endnotes. Provisions ceasing to have effect If a provision of the compiled law has expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes. ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Meteorology Act 1955 i Contents 1 Short title ........................................................................................... 1 3 Interpretation ..................................................................................... 1 4 Extension to Territories ..................................................................... 1 5 The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology .................................... 1 6 Functions of the Bureau ..................................................................... 1 7 Powers of the Director ....................................................................... 2 7A Advertising ........................................................................................ 3 8 Charges .............................................................................................. 3 8A Application of the finance law ........................................................... 3 9 Regulations ........................................................................................ 4 Endnotes 5 Endnote 1—About the endnotes 5 Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 7 Endnote 3—Legislation history 8 Endnote 4—Amendment history 9 Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none] 10 Endnote 6—Modifications [none] 10 Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments [none] 10 Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none] 10 ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Section 1 Meteorology Act 1955 1 An Act relating to the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Meteorology Act 1955. 3 Interpretation In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: the Bureau means the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology established by this Act. the Director means the Director of Meteorology. 4 Extension to Territories (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act extends to all the Territories. (2) The Minister may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare that this Act, on a date specified in the notice, ceases to extend to a Territory specified in the notice. 5 The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology (1) For the purposes of this Act, there is to be a Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology and a Director of Meteorology. (2) The Bureau is to be under the charge of the Director, who will, subject to the directions of the Minister, have the general administration of this Act. 6 Functions of the Bureau (1) The functions of the Bureau are: (a) the taking and recording of meteorological observations and other observations required for the purposes of meteorology; and ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Section 7 2 Meteorology Act 1955 (b) the forecasting of weather and of the state of the atmosphere; and (c) the issue of warnings of gales, storms and other weather conditions likely to endanger life or property, including weather conditions likely to give rise to floods or bush fires; and (d) the supply of meteorological information; and (e) the publication of meteorological reports and bulletins; and (f) the promotion of the use of meteorological information; and (g) the promotion of the advancement of meteorological science, by means of meteorological research and investigation or otherwise; and (h) the furnishing of advice on meteorological matters; and (i) co-operation with the authority administering the meteorological service of any other country (including a Territory specified under subsection 4(2)) in relation to any of the matters specified in the preceding paragraphs of this subsection; and (j) such other functions as are conferred on the Bureau by any other Act. (2) The Bureau must perform its functions under this Act in the public interest generally and in particular: (a) for the purposes of the Defence Force; and (b) for the purposes of navigation and shipping and of civil aviation; and (c) for the purpose of assisting persons and authorities engaged in primary production, industry, trade and commerce. 7 Powers of the Director (1) The Director has such powers as are necessary to enable the Bureau to perform its functions under section 6 (including any of its functions under Part 7 of the Water Act 2007), and, in particular, may: (a) establish meteorological offices and observing stations; and ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Section 7A Meteorology Act 1955 3 (b) arrange with any Department, authority or person to take and record meteorological observations and transmit meteorological reports and information; and (c) arrange means of communication for the transmission and reception of meteorological reports and information; and (d) arrange for the training of persons in meteorology. (2) The Departments and authorities with which, and the persons with whom, arrangements may be made under subsection (1) include Departments and authorities of a State or Territory and persons in the service of such a State or Territory of such a Department or authority. 7A Advertising (1) The Bureau may include advertising on, in or in connection with any of its services. (2) The Director must develop and publish guidelines relating to advertising. (3) Guidelines made under subsection (2) are not a legislative instrument. 8 Charges The Director may, subject to any directions of the Minister, make charges for forecasts, information, advice, services, publications and other matter supplied pursuant to this Act or Part 7 of the Water Act 2007. 8A Application of the finance law For the purposes of the finance law (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013): (a) the following group of persons is a listed entity: (i) the Director; (ii) persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 to assist the Director; and ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Section 9 4 Meteorology Act 1955 (b) the listed entity is to be known as the Bureau of Meteorology; and (c) the Director is the accountable authority of the listed entity; and (d) the persons referred to in paragraph (a) are officials of the listed entity; and (e) the purposes of the listed entity include the functions of the Bureau referred to in section 6. 9 Regulations The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act. ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes Meteorology Act 1955 5 Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes The endnotes provide details of the history of this legislation and its provisions. The following endnotes are included in each compilation: Endnote 1—About the endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Endnote 3—Legislation history Endnote 4—Amendment history Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments Endnote 6—Modifications Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments Endnote 8—Miscellaneous If there is no information under a particular endnote, the word ―none‖ will appear in square brackets after the endnote heading. Abbreviation key—Endnote 2 The abbreviation key in this endnote sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes. Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4 Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history. The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended the compiled law. The information includes commencement information for amending laws and details of application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation. The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision level. It also includes information about any provisions that have expired or otherwise ceased to have effect in accordance with a provision of the compiled law. Uncommenced amendments—Endnote 5 The effect of uncommenced amendments is not reflected in the text of the compiled law but the text of the amendments is included in endnote 5. ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 1—About the endnotes 6 Meteorology Act 1955 Modifications—Endnote 6 If the compiled law is affected by a modification that is in force, details of the modification are included in endnote 6. Misdescribed amendments—Endnote 7 An amendment is a misdescribed amendment if the effect of the amendment cannot be incorporated into the text of the compilation. Any misdescribed amendment is included in endnote 7. Miscellaneous—Endnote 8 Endnote 8 includes any additional information that may be helpful for a reader of the compilation. ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 2—Abbreviation key Meteorology Act 1955 7 Endnote 2—Abbreviation key ad = added or inserted pres = present am = amended prev = previous c = clause(s) (prev) = previously Ch = Chapter(s) Pt = Part(s) def = definition(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s) Dict = Dictionary Reg = Regulation/Regulations disallowed = disallowed by Parliament reloc = relocated Div = Division(s) renum = renumbered exp = expired or ceased to have effect rep = repealed hdg = heading(s) rs = repealed and substituted LI = Legislative Instrument s = section(s) LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s) mod = modified/modification Sdiv = Subdivision(s) No = Number(s) SLI = Select Legislative Instrument o = order(s) SR = Statutory Rules Ord = Ordinance Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s) orig = original SubPt = Subpart(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) /sub-subparagraph(s) ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 3—Legislation history 8 Meteorology Act 1955 Endnote 3—Legislation history Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions Meteorology Act 1955 6, 1955 23 May 1955 20 June 1955 Meteorology Act 1973 123, 1973 30 Oct 1973 30 Oct 1973 — Statute Law Revision Act 1973 216, 1973 19 Dec 1973 31 Dec 1973 s 9(1) and 10 Water (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 138, 2007 3 Sept 2007 Sch 1: 3 Mar 2008 (s 2(1) item 2) Remainder: 3 Sept 2007 (s 2(1) item 1) — Public Governance, Performance and Accountability (Consequential and Transitional Provisions) Act 2014 62, 2014 30 June 2014 Sch 6 (item 55) and Sch 14 (items 1–4): 1 July 2014 (s 2(1) items 6, 14) Sch 14 (items 1– 4) Meteorology Amendment (Online Advertising) Act 2014 102, 2014 11 Sept 2014 11 Sept 2014 (s 2) Sch 1 (item 3) ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 4—Amendment history Meteorology Act 1955 9 Endnote 4—Amendment history Provision affected How affected s 2 .................................................. rep No 216, 1973 s 4 .................................................. rs No 123, 1973 am No 102, 2014 s 5 .................................................. am No 102, 2014 s 6 .................................................. am No 123, 1973; No 138, 2007; No 102, 2014 s 7 .................................................. am No 123, 1973; No 138, 2007; No 102, 2014 s 7A ............................................... ad No 102, 2014 s 8 .................................................. am No 138, 2007; No 102, 2014 s 8A ............................................... ad No 62, 2014 ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652 Endnotes Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none] 10 Meteorology Act 1955 Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none] Endnote 6—Modifications [none] Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments [none] Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none] ComLaw Authoritative Act C2014C00652