Meteorology Act 1955

Subject to subsection (2), this Act extends to all the Territories.

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.

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:

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 following group of persons is a listed entity:

the Director;

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.