EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Issued by the Chief Metrologist

National Measurement Act 1960

National Measurement Amendment Guidelines 2009 (No. 1)

The principal objects of the National Measurement Act 1960 (the Act) are to:

• establish a national system of units and standards of measurement of physical quantities;
• provide for the uniform use of those uniform units and standards of measurement throughout Australia;
• co-ordinate the operation of the national system of measurement;
• provide for a system of verification of utility meters used for trade; and
• provide the legal framework for a national system of trade measurement.

Section 7B of the Act provides that the Chief Metrologist of the National Measurement Institute may make guidelines governing the way in which Australian legal units of measurement may be combined to produce further Australian legal units of measurement, and the way in which Australia legal units of measurement may be combined with a prefix for the purposes of section 7A(3) of the Act.

The purpose of the Guidelines is to amend the Principal Guidelines to enable Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for the additional physical quantities of conductivity (electrical and thermal) and kerma rate.

The necessity to be able to form further Australian legal units of measurement for these physical quantities has emerged from the National Measurement Institute’s interactions with stakeholders using the facilities of the Act and its subordinate legislation to facilitate their own functions and objectives.  These stakeholders include in particular the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA).

Details of the Guidelines are set out in the Attachment.

The Guidelines are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

Sections 4, 17 and 18 of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 require details of consultation undertaken to be provided in the Explanatory Statement accompanying such instruments or their exemption from it. In the case of this legislative instrument, as only minor adjustments are being made, there is no change in regulatory policy and no new fee items introduced. In these circumstances, it is not appropriate to engage business in a consultation process. 

The Guidelines will commence on 1 July 2009.

ATTACHMENT

Details of the National Measurement Amendment Guidelines 2009 (No. 1)

Clause 1 – Name of Guidelines

This specifies the name of the Guidelines as the National Measurement Amendment Guidelines 2009 (No. 1).

Clause 2 - Commencement

Regulation 2 provides that the Guidelines commence on 1 July 2009.

Clause 3 – Amendment of National Measurement Guidelines 1999

This provides that Schedule 1 amends the National Measurement Guidelines 1999 (the Principal Guidelines).

Schedule 1 – Amendments

Item 1 – Section 5, Physical quantities, provision for Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for the physical quantity ‘conductivity (electrical and thermal)’.

This item enables Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for the physical quantity ‘conductivity’ and in particular it enables Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for both electrical and thermal conductivity.  The addition of the facility to form Australian legal units of measurement for ‘conductivity’ will ensure that the national measurement legislation provides for the formation of Australian legal units of measurement for all physical quantities commonly used in science and technology.

Item 2   – Section 5, Physical quantities, provision for Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for the physical quantity ‘kerma rate’.

This item enables Australian legal units of measurement to be formed for the physical quantity ‘kerma rate’ as international scientific practice regards ‘kerma rate’ as a more appropriate unit for the measurement and expression of energy release in to a medium through ionising radiation than the unit ‘kerma’.