EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
STATUTORY RULES 1989 NO. 374
ISSUED BY THE AUTHORITY OF THE MINISTER FOR COMMUNITY SERVICES AND HEALTH
ACOUSTIC LABORATORIES ACT 1948
Acoustic Laboratories Regulations (Amendment)
Paragraph 6(b) of the Acoustic Laboratories Act 1948 (‘the Act’) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations prescribing the terms and conditions under which the services of the acoustic laboratories may be made available and the charges which may be made for the services.
Regulation 3 of the Acoustic Laboratories Regulations (‘the Regulations’) currently provides for charges for audiometric tests for pilots, flight navigators, flight radio telephone operators and flight engineers.
In accordance with the Government’s policy of providing certain services on a cost recovery basis, the National Acoustic Laboratories (NAL) provides a number of services to other Government organisations and the private sector for which charges should be applied.
The Statutory Rules repeal regulations 2 and 3 of the Regulations. Regulation 2 defines ‘acoustic laboratory’ to mean a laboratory controlled by the Secretary of the Department of Community Services and Health. Regulation 3 increases the charge for audiometric testing conducted by an acoustic laboratory from $10 per test to $60 per hour or part thereof for applicants under the Civil Aviation Regulations and for treatment of Commonwealth compensation clients.
Regulation 4 introduces fees for acoustic testing carried out in the Acoustic Test Facilities at the NAL Central Laboratory. The fees cover the hiring out of the facilities and the specialist assistance provided by NAL staff. Fees for the hire of test rooms at an acoustic laboratory is provided in sub-regulation 4(1) and set out in the Schedule to the Regulations.
Sub-regulation 4(2) sets fees of $13 per hour for the hire of a test instrument under $40,000 and $25 per hour for any other test instrument in an acoustic laboratory. A fee of $64 per hour for the assistance provided by NAL staff is set out in proposed sub-regulation 4(3).
The Statutory Rules also introduce charges for testing hearing protectors at an acoustic laboratory. The proposed fees reflect the fact that the major component of the cost is in the setting up of the test, with a maximum of four hearing protectors being tested at any one time.
Regulation 5 provides for the payment of charges and for the reduction of the rates specified in proposed regulation 4 for Commonwealth, State or Territory authorities or agencies, a body corporate or an educational institution.
The Statutory Rules take effect on and from 1 January 1990.