Meteorology Act 1955

No. 6, 1955 as amended

Compilation start date:   1 July 2014

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 62, 2014

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Meteorology Act 1955 as in force on 1 July 2014. It includes any commenced amendment affecting the legislation to that date.

This compilation was prepared on 8 August 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.

Contents

1 Short title

3 Interpretation

4 Extension to Territories

5 The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology

6 Functions of the Bureau

7 Powers of the Director

8 Charges

8A Application of the finance law

9 Regulations

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

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]

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 shall, on a date specified in the notice, cease to extend to a Territory specified in the notice.

5  The Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology

 (1) For the purposes of this Act, there shall be a Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology and a Director of Meteorology.

 (2) The Bureau shall be under the charge of the Director, who shall, 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

 (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 shall perform its functions under this Act in the public interest generally and in particular:

 (a) for the purposes of the Defence Force;

 (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;

 (b) arrange with any Department, authority or person to take and record meteorological observations and transmit meteorological reports and information;

 (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 the last preceding subsection 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.

8  Charges

  The Director may, subject to any directions of the Minister, make charges for forecasts, information, advice, 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

 (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.

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]