Statutory Rules
1973 No. 253
REGULATIONS UNDER THE WEIGHTS AND MEASURES (NATIONAL STANDARDS) ACT 1960-1966.*
I, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of Australia, acting with the advice of the Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966.
Dated this fourth day of December, 1973.
PAUL HASLUCK
Governor-General.
By His Excellency’s Command,
W. L. MORRISON
Minister of State for Science.
Amendments of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations†
Interpretation.
1. Regulation 3 of the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended by adding at the end thereof the following sub-regulation:—
“ (3) In these Regulations, an abbreviation or symbol specified in the third column of a Schedule that is formed by the algebraic combination of abbreviations or symbols of other units may also be expressed using appropriate negative exponents.”.
Third Schedule.
2. The Third Schedule to the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations is amended—
(a) by omitting the words “ Kilogrammes ” and substituting the word “ Kilograms ”;
(b) by omitting the words—
“ Tonne or metric ton ............ | 1,000 | t ” |
and substituting the words—
“ Megatonne .................. | 1 000 000 000 | Mt |
Kilotonne ................... | 1 000 000 | kt |
Tonne or metric ton ............ | 1 000 | t ”; |
and
(c) by omitting the words “ Dekagram or Dekagramme ” and substituting the words “ Dekagram or dekagramme ”.
* Notified in the Australian Government Gazette on 13 December 1973.
† Statutory Rules 1961, No. 142, as amended by Statutory Rules 1963, No. 126; 1964, No. 146; 1965, No. 13; 1968, No. 150; 1970, No. 40; 1972, Nos. 62, 133 and 160; and 1973, No. 68
Overview
The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations 1973, made under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966, were introduced to provide detailed and specific guidelines for the use of weights and measures in Australia. These regulations address the need for a uniform and consistent approach to measurement standards across the country, ensuring that trade, commerce, and scientific activities are conducted with accurate and reliable measurements. The Regulations were enacted by the Governor-General of Australia, acting on the advice of the Executive Council, and include amendments to the previous regulations to reflect changes in terminology and measurement units. The policy objective of these Regulations is to maintain and enhance the integrity of measurements used in Australia, facilitating both domestic and international trade and commerce.
Scope and Application
The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations 1973, made under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960-1966, apply to all persons and entities in Australia, including those involved in trade, commerce, and industry, who must comply with the national standards for weights and measures. These regulations govern the use of units of measurement in various transactions and ensure uniformity across the Commonwealth. The scope of the Act extends to all jurisdictions within Australia, thereby unifying the standards of measurement across state and territory borders. The regulations amend existing provisions to refine the interpretation of units of measurement and their symbols, ensuring that algebraic combinations of units can be expressed using appropriate negative exponents. Furthermore, the amendments correct and expand the definitions of certain units within the Third Schedule, such as substituting "Kilograms" for "Kilogrammes," introducing new units like "Megatonne" and "Kilotonne," and clarifying the term "Dekagram" to include both "Dekagram" and "dekagramme." Any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds are not explicitly detailed in these particular regulations, but they operate within the broader legislative framework provided by the parent Act. The regulations may be further extended or restricted through subordinate instruments as necessary to adapt to evolving standards and practices.
Key Provisions
The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Regulations 1973, as amended, provide a framework for the use of measurement units within Australia. Section 1 of these regulations introduces amendments to the interpretation clause, allowing for the use of negative exponents in expressing combinations of units (Regulation 3). The Third Schedule of these regulations is also amended to update the terminology and units of measurement. For example, the term “Kilogrammes” is replaced with “Kilograms” (Schedule, item 2(a)), and additional metric units such as Megatonne, Kilotonne, and Tonne are clarified (Schedule, item 2(b)). Furthermore, the term “Dekagram or Dekagramme” is corrected to “Dekagram or dekagramme” (Schedule, item 2(c)).
The obligations imposed by these regulations require entities and individuals to adhere to the standardised units of measurement as outlined in the Third Schedule. This includes using the specified terms and units when dealing with weights and measures, ensuring consistency and accuracy in commercial and industrial applications. Compliance with these standards is crucial for activities such as trade, manufacturing, and scientific research, where precise measurements are essential.
Failure to comply with these regulations can result in civil or criminal consequences. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the legislative instrument, breaches of weights and measures regulations typically carry fines. In more serious cases, where the breach is deemed to be deliberate or repeated, criminal charges may be brought against the offending party. The exact penalties would be determined by the courts based on the severity and intent of the breach, but they could include substantial fines and, in some instances, imprisonment. Ensuring adherence to these regulations is therefore not only a matter of legal compliance but also of maintaining public trust and safety in measured transactions and products.