Meteorological Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Statutory Rules of 1938, No. 37, represent a regulatory amendment under the Meteorology Act 1906, enacted to address the need for more efficient and cost-effective distribution of meteorological publications. This legislative instrument was introduced by the Administrator of the Government of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, to refine the administrative framework governing the sale of meteorological publications. The primary policy objective of this regulation is to facilitate the provision of multiple copies of essential meteorological documents, such as the Daily Rain Map, Daily Weather Bulletin (Interstate), Daily Weather Bulletin (State), and the Daily Weather Chart of Australia, at a reduced rate for subscribers who have already paid the full annual subscription for one copy. This amendment aims to enhance accessibility and affordability of vital weather information for subscribers, thereby supporting informed decision-making in various sectors reliant on accurate meteorological data.

Scope and Application

The Meteorological Regulations 1938, made under the Meteorology Act 1906, apply to the sale of meteorological publications such as the Daily Rain Map, Daily Weather Bulletin (Interstate), Daily Weather Bulletin (State), and Daily Weather Chart of Australia. The regulations specifically target subscribers who have paid the full annual subscription for one copy of these publications and seek to provide a reduced rate for additional copies. This regulation is applicable nationally, extending the reach of the Meteorology Act 1906 across the Commonwealth of Australia. While the regulation primarily concerns the pricing structure for meteorological publications, it does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds. The regulation may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments issued under the Meteorology Act 1906, though the provided legislative instrument focuses solely on the amendment of the sale conditions for the specified publications.

Key Provisions

The main operative section of this Statutory Rule is Regulation 2, which amends the existing Meteorological Regulations under the Meteorology Act 1906. Specifically, Regulation 2(4) introduces a new sub-regulation that allows subscribers who have paid the full annual subscription for one copy of specified meteorological publications to purchase additional copies at a reduced rate. The reduced rate is set at twenty-five per cent of the annual rate prescribed for the publication in Regulation 2(1). These publications include the Daily Rain Map, the Daily Weather Bulletin (Interstate), the Daily Weather Bulletin (State), and the Daily Weather Chart of Australia. This amendment imposes certain obligations on both subscribers and the Commonwealth government. Subscribers who have already paid the full annual subscription for one copy of the specified publications are now entitled to purchase additional copies at a discounted rate. The Commonwealth government, through the Bureau of Meteorology, is required to implement and enforce this reduced rate for additional copies as per the new Regulation 2(4). The government must also ensure that subscribers who meet the criteria are aware of the availability of additional copies at the discounted rate. Failure to comply with the provisions of this Statutory Rule may result in civil or administrative consequences, although the specific consequences are not detailed in the text. The Statutory Rule does not explicitly outline penalties for non-compliance, but it is likely that any breaches of the regulation could be addressed through existing administrative or civil mechanisms under the Meteorology Act 1906. This could include fines or other enforcement actions taken by the relevant authorities. The maximum penalties for such breaches would depend on the interpretation and application of the Meteorology Act 1906 and related administrative procedures.