Petroleum (Submerged Lands)

No. 1 of 1968

An Act to amend sections 16 and 146 of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967.

[Assented to 29 March 1968]

BE it enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title and citation.

1.—(1.) This Act may be cited as the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1968.

(2.) The Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.) The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967-1968.

Commencement.

2. This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

Designated Authorities—Territories.

3. Section 16 of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting sub-section (1.) and inserting in its stead the following sub-sections:—

“(1.) The Designated Authority in respect of—

(a) the adjacent area that is the area specified in the Second Schedule to this Act as being adjacent to the Northern Territory of Australia; and

(b) the adjacent area that is the area specified in that Schedule as being adjacent to the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands,

is the Minister of State for the Interior.

“(1a.) The Designated Authority in respect of—

(a) the adjacent area that is the area specified in the Second Schedule to this Act as being adjacent to the Territory of Papua; and

(b) the adjacent area that is the area specified in that Schedule as being adjacent to the Territory of New Guinea,

is the Minister of State for External Territories.";

(b) by omitting from sub-section (2.) the words “The Minister of State for Territories, as the Designated Authority in respect of such an area” and inserting in their stead the words “A Minister referred to in either of the last two preceding sub-sections, as the Designated Authority in respect of an adjacent area”; and

(c) by omitting from sub-section (4.) the words "the Minister of State for Territories" and inserting in their stead the words "the Minister making the delegation".

The Barracouta and Marlin Fields Petroleum Production Licences to have effect as production licences for petroleum under this Act.

4. Section 146 of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraph (a) of sub-section (2.) the figures “43” and inserting in their stead the figures “44”.