National Standards Commission
NSC
1950 – 1 July 2004
Commonwealth statutory commission responsible for advising on Australia's legal units and standards of measurement, the approval of patterns of trade measuring instruments and the coordination of uniform trade measurement laws across the states and territories.
How it came into existence
Constituted in 1950 under the Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1948, the first Commonwealth law on uniform units and standards of measurement, with the physical standards maintained by CSIRO's National Standards Laboratory. It had no Commonwealth predecessor.
Legislation: Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1948; Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960 (from 1984 the National Measurement Act 1960)
Changes during its life
- 1960The Weights and Measures (National Standards) Act 1960 repealed and replaced the 1948 Act, leaving the states to legislate on trade measurement under national standards.
- 1984The Act's short title was changed to the National Measurement Act 1960.
- Completion of metric conversion
How it ended
Merged on 1 July 2004 with CSIRO's National Measurement Laboratory and the Australian Government Analytical Laboratories to form the National Measurement Institute.
Main functions
- Advice on legal units and standards of measurement
- Pattern approval of trade measuring instruments
- Coordination of uniform trade measurement legislation
- Certification of measurement verifying authorities
Where it sits
Last in the portfolio of Department of Industry, Tourism and Resources.
Lineage
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Sources
Primary sources
Some dates or links for this organisation are uncertain. Corrections are welcome.