Contents
1............ Short title [see Note 1]....................................................................... 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
8............ Charges............................................................................................... 3
9............ Regulations......................................................................................... 3
Notes 5
An Act relating to the Commonwealth Bureau of Meteorology
1
Short title [see Note 1]
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;
(b) the forecasting of weather and of
the state of the atmosphere;
(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;
(d) the supply of meteorological
information;
(e) the publication of meteorological
reports and bulletins;
(f) the promotion of the use of
meteorological information;
(g) the promotion of the advancement
of meteorological science, by means of meteorological research and
investigation or otherwise;
(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.
(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 the last
preceding section, 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 in pursuance of this Act.
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.
Note 2
Water (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (No. 138, 2007)
The following amendments commence on 3 March 2008 unless proclaimed earlier:
Schedule 1
1 At the end of paragraphs 6(1)(a) to (g)
Add “and”.
2 At the end of subsection 6(1)
Add:
; and (j) such other functions as are
conferred on the Bureau by any other Act.
3 Subsection 7(1)
Omit “the last preceding section”, substitute “section 6
(including any of its functions under Part 7 of the Water Act 2007)”.
4 Section 8
Omit “in pursuance of this Act”, substitute “pursuant to this Act
or Part 7 of the Water Act 2007”.
As at 5 September 2007 the amendments are not incorporated in
this compilation.