Compilation #None | Effective 2014-09-11
FRBR Work URI: /akn/au/act/1955/6
This Act may be cited as the Meteorology Act 1955.
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.
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.
For the purposes of this Act, there is to be a Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology and a Director of Meteorology.
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.
The functions of the Bureau are:
the taking and recording of meteorological observations and other observations required for the purposes of meteorology; and
the forecasting of weather and of the state of the atmosphere; and
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
the supply of meteorological information; and
the publication of meteorological reports and bulletins; and
the promotion of the use of meteorological information; and
the promotion of the advancement of meteorological science, by means of meteorological research and investigation or otherwise; and
the furnishing of advice on meteorological matters; and
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
such other functions as are conferred on the Bureau by any other Act.
The Bureau must perform its functions under this Act in the public interest generally and in particular:
for the purposes of the Defence Force; and
for the purposes of navigation and shipping and of civil aviation; and
for the purpose of assisting persons and authorities engaged in primary production, industry, trade and commerce.
(1) The Director has such powers as are necessary to enable the Bureau to perform its functions under Water Act 2007), and, in particular, may:section 6 (including any of its functions under Part 7 of the
establish meteorological offices and observing stations; and
arrange with any Department, authority or person to take and record meteorological observations and transmit meteorological reports and information; and
arrange means of communication for the transmission and reception of meteorological reports and information; and
arrange for the training of persons in meteorology.
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.
The Bureau may include advertising on, in or in connection with any of its services.
The Director must develop and publish guidelines relating to advertising.
Guidelines made under subsection (2) are not a legislative instrument.
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.
For the purposes of the finance law (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013):
the following group of persons is a listed entity:
the Director;
(ii) persons engaged under the Public Service Act 1999 to assist the Director; and
the listed entity is to be known as the Bureau of Meteorology; and
the Director is the accountable authority of the listed entity; and
the persons referred to in paragraph (a) are officials of the listed entity; and
the purposes of the listed entity include the functions of the Bureau referred to in section 6.
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.
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.
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.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Endnote 5—Uncommenced amendments [none]
Endnote 6—Modifications [none]
Endnote 7—Misdescribed amendments [none]
Endnote 8—Miscellaneous [none]