Compilation #3 | Effective 2018-07-01
FRBR Work URI: /akn/au/act/2010/11
This Act may be cited as the Astronomical Functions Act 2010.
This Act commences on 1 July 2010.
This Act provides that the Secretary has various functions relating to optical astronomy.
The Commonwealth may charge fees in connection with things done in the performance of the Secretary’s functions.
The Secretary may delegate functions and powers under this Act to APS employees in the Department.
In this Act:
optical includes radiation in the near-ultraviolet, visible and infrared portions of the electromagnetic spectrum.
optical astronomy facility means a telescope, or other facility, for making optical astronomical observations, and includes any associated equipment, buildings or infrastructure.
Secretary means the Secretary of the Department.
This Act binds the Crown in each of its capacities.
This Act extends to every external Territory.
This Act applies both within and outside Australia.
The Secretary has functions relating to optical astronomy.
Those functions include the following:
to operate, construct, develop and maintain national optical astronomy facilities;
to support optical astronomy facilities;
to consult and co-operate with other persons, organisations and governments on matters relating to optical astronomy;
to facilitate access to optical astronomy facilities;
to develop, manufacture and provide instrumentation for optical astronomy facilities;
to support the development, manufacture and provision of instrumentation for optical astronomy facilities;
to support, encourage, conduct and evaluate research about matters relating to optical astronomy;
to support, encourage, conduct and evaluate educational, promotional and community awareness programs that are relevant to optical astronomy;
to publish (whether on the internet or otherwise) reports, papers and information relating to optical astronomy;
to advise the Minister about matters relating to optical astronomy;
to implement Australia’s international obligations in relation to optical astronomy;
such other functions (if any) as are specified in the regulations;
to do anything incidental to or conducive to the performance of any of the above functions.
Subsection (2) does not limit subsection (1).
Note: For delegation of functions, see section 23.
The Commonwealth may charge fees for things done in the performance of the functions conferred by section 11.
The Secretary may, by writing, delegate all or any of the Secretary’s functions or powers under this Act to an APS employee in the Department who has expertise appropriate to the function or power delegated.
In exercising functions or powers under a delegation, the delegate must comply with any directions of the Secretary.
This Act does not limit the executive power of the Commonwealth.
This Act is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of a law of a State or Territory that is capable of operating concurrently with this Act.
The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters:
required or permitted to be prescribed by this Act; or
necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.
The following endnotes are included in every compilation:
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
Abbreviation key—Endnote 2
The abbreviation key 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 (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any 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 (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.
Editorial changes
The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.
If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.
Misdescribed amendments
A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history