Explanatory Statement
National Measurement Act 1960 (Cth)
Recognized-value standard of measurement of position 2012 (No. 1)
Issued by the Authority of the Chief Metrologist, Dr P T H FISK
Purpose
The Recognized-value standard of measurement of position 2012 (No. 1) (the determination) is made by the Chief Metrologist, National Measurement Institute, under subsection 8A(1) of the National Measurement Act 1960 (Cth) (the Act). The determination is a legislative instrument for the purposes of section 5 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 (Cth).
The purpose of the determination is to realise units of measurement through the development and maintenance of standards of measurement, reference materials and reference techniques and to promote uniformity in national trade measurement policy and practice.
The Recognized-value standard of measurement of position determination, made by the former National Standards Commission and dated 14 January 1998, is revoked in this legislative instrument pursuant to subsection 8A(2) of the Act.
The determination confers the appropriate legal status under the Act on the current positions in the Australian Fiducial Network (AFN) which has recently been revised by Geosciences Australia, the Commonwealth Government agency with responsibility for developing and maintaining the AFN.
This determination provides that:
- magnitudes of physical quantities specified in the determination shall be recognized-value standards of measurement; and
- the determination Recognized-value standard of measurement of position made by the former National Standards Commission and dated 14 January 1998 is revoked.
Legislative Background
A National Measurement Institute is established within the Department of Industry, Innovation, Science, Research and Tertiary Education (the Department) under section 17 of the Act as a division of the Department. The position of Chief Metrologist is established and the functions of the Chief Metrologist identified section 18A of the Act.
Paragraph 8A(1)(a) of the Act gives the Chief Metrologist the power to determine that magnitudes of physical quantities specified in the Determination shall be recognized-value standards of measurement.
Subsection 8A(2) of the Act gives the Chief Metrologist the power to revoke any such determination.
Subsection 8A(4) provides that a recognized-value standard of measurement is not subject to verification.
Likely Impact and Effect
The revision of the determination will enable surveyors and other users of legally traceable measurements of position to use the most up-to-date data to ensure the accuracy of their work.
The additional positions included in the determination will enhance the infrastructure facilities available to surveyors and other users of legally traceable measurement of position.
The costs associated with incorporating the revised values of the AFN positions in the determination into the operations of surveyors and other users of precise legally traceable measurement of position are minimal, and form part of the normal cost of maintaining up-to-date capabilities for these stakeholders.
Consultation
Consultation on the determination was undertaken by Geoscience Australia, the Commonwealth Government agency with responsibility for developing and maintaining the AFN. Geoscience Australia met with the Geodesy Technical Sub-Committee of the intergovernmental Committee for Surveying and Mapping in Wellington and agreed to update the determination of Recognized-value standard of measurement of position of 14 January 1998. The purpose of the update is to improve the consistency between the determination, and the most recent realisation of the global terrestrial reference frame.
Notes on Clauses
Clause 1 is the main operative clause.
Clause 1.1 revokes the determination Recognized-value standard of measurement of position made by the former National Standards Commission and dated 14 January 1998.
Clause 1.2 determines the positions of the Australian Fiducial Network within the stated references as recognized-value standards of measurement of the physical quantity position.
Clause 2 provides that the name of the determination is the Recognized-value standard of measurement of position 2012 (No. 1).
Clause 3 provides that the determination takes effect from the day after it is registered on the Federal of Legislative Instruments.
Clause 4 provides details of the National Measurement Institute and the legislation under which it is established.
Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights
This determination is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 as it does not:
- engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms; and
- raise any human rights issues.