EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Employment, Education and Training
STATUTORY RULES 1988 NO. 114
ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE AGREEMENT ACT 1970 ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN TELESCOPE AGREEMENT REGULATIONS
Section 20 of the Anglo-Australian Telescope Agreement Act 1970 (the Act) provides that the Governor-General may make regulations permitted by the Act to be prescribed.
Section 8A of the Act provides for the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board to have such additional functions as are conferred on it by regulations and empowers the Board to do all things necessary or convenient to be done in connection with the performance of its additional functions and in particular to do such things as it is empowered under the regulations to do.
The regulations confer the following additional functions on the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board-
(1) the care and maintenance of the Schmidt Telescope;
(2) the operation and management of the telescope; and
(3) the development of the telescope.
Prior to the regulations being made, the functions of the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board related to the administration of the Anglo-Australian Telescope which is located at Siding Spring Mountain in New South Wales. The Board administers this telescope under an agreement between the Australian and United Kingdom governments to which effect is given by the Anglo-Australian Telescope Agreement Act.
The Schmidt Telescope is also located at Siding Spring Mountain. It is owned by the Science and Engineering Research Council of the United Kingdom. The Council wishes to reduce its astronomical activity in Australia and has offered to allow the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board to manage and operate the Schmidt Telescope. The Board wishes to accept this offer as the Schmidt Telescope can provide photographic plates which are useful for some research carried out with the Anglo-Australian Telescope.
The Science and Engineering Council and the Anglo-Australian Telescope Board have agreed that the additional functions are appropriate ones to be conferred on the Board. The appropriate United Kingdom and Australian Ministers have agreed that it is appropriate that the Board be given these additional functions.
The Council and the Board have agreed upon the terms of a management agreement relating to the Board’s management of the Schmidt Telescope. The regulations enable the Board to execute the management agreement.