Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

NATIONAL MUSEUM OF AUSTRALIA ACT 1980 - SECT 3

             (1)  In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

"appoint" includes re-appoint.

"Australian history" includes:

                     (a)  the natural history of Australia; and

                     (b)  the history of the interaction of man with the Australian natural environment.

"Australian natural environment" includes all aspects of the surroundings of man in Australia, whether affecting him as an individual or in his social groupings.

"Chair means the Chair" of the Council.

"Council" means the Council of the National Museum of Australia.

"Deputy Chair"   means the Deputy Chair of the Council.

"deputy part-time member" means a person appointed under section 15 to be the deputy of a part-time member.

"Director" means the Director of the National Museum of Australia.

"historical material" means material (whether in written form or in any other form) relating to Australian history.

"member" means a member of the Council.

"Museum" means the National Museum of Australia established by this Act.

"national historical collection" means:

                     (a)  all historical material that was in the ownership of the Museum at the time when the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1985  received the Royal Assent other than any such material that the Council determines should not be in the national historical collection;

                     (b)  such historical material that was in the possession of the Museum at the time referred to in paragraph (a) as the Council determines should be included in the national historical collection; and

                     (c)  such historical material that comes into the ownership or possession of the Museum after the time referred to in paragraph (a) as the Council determines should be included in the national historical collection.

"part-time member" means a member appointed to be a part-time member.

             (2)  For the purposes of the definitions of Australian history and Australian natural environment in subsection (1), Australia includes:

                     (a)  every external Territory; and

                     (b)  the continental shelf, within the meaning of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973 , that is adjacent to the coast of Australia or of an external Territory.

             (3)  For the purposes of subsection (2), external Territory includes any territory that was formerly a Territory referred to in section 122 of the Constitution (including a Territory administered by Australia under a Trusteeship Agreement) but has ceased to be a Territory referred to in that section.

             (4)  Any determination made by the Council for the purposes of the definition of national historical collection in subsection (1) shall be based upon criteria, and made in accordance with guidelines, approved by the Minister.