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Offshore Minerals Act 1994
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Administered by
Department of Industry, Science and Resources
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C2024C00638 (C16)
14 October 2024
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Chapter 1—Introduction
Part 1.1—Legislative formalities and background
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Commonwealth State agreement (the Offshore Constitutional Settlement)
Part 1.2—Interpretation
Division 1—General
4 Interpretation
5 Treatment of the Northern Territory
6 Shares in a licence
7 Transfer of a licence
8 Successor licences
9 Notes, diagrams etc. form part of section etc.
10 Position on the Earth’s surface
11A Application of the Criminal Code
12 Power to vary and revoke instruments
Division 2—Basic concepts
13 Commonwealth State offshore areas
14 External territory offshore areas
15 Effect of change to, or reassessment of the location of, baseline
16 Coastal waters of a State
17 Blocks
18 Reserved block
19 Standard block
20 Tender block
21 Discrete area
22 Mineral
23 Exploration
24 Recovery
25 Licence holder
26 Associates
27 Confidential information
28 Confidential sample
Part 1.3—Designated Authorities and Joint Authorities
29 Designated Authorities
30 Functions and powers of Designated Authorities
31 Judicial notice of signature of Designated Authority
32 Joint Authorities
33 Functions and powers of Joint Authorities
34 Service of documents on a Joint Authority
Part 1.4—Application of this Act
35 Act does not apply to exploration for or recovery of petroleum
35A Act does not apply in relation to Greater Sunrise special regime area
36 Act extends to certain external territories
37 Act applies to all individuals and corporations
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Chapter 2—Regulation of offshore exploration and mining
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Part 2.1—General
38 General prohibition on exploring and mining in offshore areas without appropriate authorisation under this Act
39 Licences and consents available under this Act
40 Steps involved in the grant of a fully effective licence
41 Approval of form and manner of applications etc.
42 Rights to minerals recovered
43 Effect of grant of licence or special purpose consent on native title
44 Licence etc. does not authorise unnecessary interference with other activities in the licence area
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Part 2.2—Exploration licences
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Division 1—General
45 Exploration licences
46 Activities authorised by an exploration licence
47 Joint Authority may cancel or not renew exploration licence without compensation
48 Licence rights may be suspended
49 Compensation for acquisition of property due to suspension of rights
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Division 2—Application for and grant of exploration licence over standard blocks
50 Application for exploration licence over standard block
51 Which blocks are excluded?
52 Designated Authority may determine that excluded block is available
53 Designated Authority may allow application for more than one discrete area
54 How to apply
55 Effect of inclusion of unavailable block in application
56 Payment of fee
57 Application must be advertised
58 How multiple applications are dealt with
59 Discussions about blocks applied for
60 Advertising revised application
61 Request for further information
62 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
63 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant exploration licence
64 External territory offshore area—how application for exploration licence dealt with
65 Matters to be specified in the licence
66 Applicant must be notified
67 Amendment of conditions
68 Amendment of security requirements
69 Extension of primary payment period
70 Acceptance of grant of exploration licence for standard block
71 Conditions applicable to licence on grant
72 Lapse of provisional grant of exploration licence
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Division 3—Application for and grant of exploration licence over tender block
73 Matters to be determined before applications for exploration licence over tender blocks invited
74 Joint Authority may invite applications for exploration licence over tender blocks
75 Tender block licence notice—exploration licence
76 Application for exploration licence over tender blocks
77 How to apply
78 Payment of fee
79 Request for further information
80 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
81 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant tender block exploration licence
82 External territory offshore area—how applications dealt with
83 Successful applicant must be notified
84 Acceptance of grant of exploration licence over tender blocks
85 Conditions applicable to licence on grant
86 Lapse of provisional grant of exploration licence
87 Provisional grant to next applicant if grant lapses
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Division 4—Duration of exploration licence
88 Initial term of exploration licence
89 Term of renewal of exploration licence
90 Effect of suspension of rights on term of exploration licence
91 Effect of application for renewal on term of exploration licence
92 Effect of application for retention licence or mining licence on term of exploration licence
93 Effect of application for extension on term of licence
94 Extension of licence—activities disrupted
95 Grant of licence extension—activities disrupted
96 Extension of licence—other circumstances
97 Grant of licence extension—other circumstances
98 Notification of decision
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Division 5—Voluntary surrender of part of exploration licence area
99 Voluntary surrender of blocks if discrete area remains
100 Voluntary surrender of blocks if up to 3 discrete areas remain
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Division 6—Application for and grant of renewal of exploration licence
101 Application for renewal of exploration licence
102 When must an application to renew be made?
103 How to apply for renewal
104 Mandatory reduction of licence area on renewal of exploration licence
105 Request for further information
106 Payment of fee
107 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer renewal application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
108 Commonwealth State offshore area—provisional renewal of an exploration licence
109 External territory offshore area—how application for renewal dealt with
110 Applicant must be notified
111 Amendment of conditions
112 Amendment of security requirements
113 Extension of primary payment period
114 Acceptance of renewal of exploration licence
115 Conditions applicable to licence on renewal
116 Lapse of provisional renewal of exploration licence
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Division 7—Obligations associated with exploration licence
117 General
118 Conditions of exploration licence
119 No conditions requiring payment of money
120 Variation of conditions
121 Exemption from or suspension of conditions
122 Automatic suspension of conditions if licence rights are suspended
123 Work practices
124 Licence holder must keep specified records etc.
125 Licence holder must assist inspectors
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Division 8—Expiry of exploration licence
126 General
127 Voluntary surrender of exploration licence
128 Automatic expiry of exploration licence when retention licence takes effect
129 Automatic expiry of exploration licence when mining licence takes effect
130 Cancellation of exploration licence
131 Obligations of former exploration licence holders and former associates
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Part 2.3—Retention licences
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Division 1—General
132 Retention licences
133 Activities authorised by a retention licence
134 Joint Authority may cancel or not renew retention licence without compensation
135 Licence rights may be suspended
136 Compensation for acquisition of property due to suspension of rights
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Division 2—Application for and grant of retention licence
137 Application for retention licence
138 How to apply
139 Payment of fee
140 Application must be advertised
141 Request for further information
142 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
143 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant retention licence
144 External territory offshore area—how application for retention licence dealt with
145 Grounds for granting retention licence
146 Matters to be specified in the licence
147 Applicant must be notified
148 Amendment of conditions
149 Amendment of security requirements
150 Extension of primary payment period
151 Acceptance of grant of retention licence
152 Conditions applicable to licence on grant
153 Lapse of provisional grant of retention licence
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Division 3—Duration of retention licence
154 Initial term of retention licence
155 Term of renewal of licence
156 Effect of application for renewal on term of retention licence
157 Effect of application for mining licence on term of retention licence
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Division 4—Voluntary surrender of part of retention licence area
158 Voluntary surrender of blocks if discrete area remains
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Division 5—Application for and grant of renewal of retention licence
159 Application for renewal of retention licence
160 When must an application to renew be made?
161 How to apply for renewal
162 Request for further information
163 Payment of fee
164 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer renewal application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
165 Commonwealth State offshore area—provisional renewal of retention licence
166 External territory offshore area—how application for renewal dealt with
167 Matters to be taken into account in deciding whether to renew retention licence
168 Refusal of application for renewal
169 Applicant must be notified
170 Amendment of conditions
171 Amendment of security requirements
172 Extension of primary payment period
173 Acceptance of renewal of retention licence
174 Conditions applicable to licence on renewal
175 Lapse of provisional renewal of retention licence
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Division 6—Obligations associated with retention licence
176 General
177 Conditions of retention licence
178 No conditions requiring payment of money
179 Variation of conditions
180 Exemption from or suspension of conditions
181 Automatic suspension of conditions if licence rights are suspended
182 Significant changes in circumstances to be reported to Designated Authority
183 Work practices
184 Licence holder must keep specified records etc.
185 Licence holder must assist inspectors
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Division 7—Expiry of retention licence
186 General
187 Voluntary surrender of retention licence
188 Automatic expiry of retention licence when mining licence takes effect
189 Cancellation of retention licence—breach of condition etc.
190 Cancellation of retention licence—mining activities viable
191 Obligations of former retention licence holders and former associates
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Part 2.4—Mining licences
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Division 1—General
192 Mining licences
193 Activities authorised by a mining licence
194 Joint Authority may cancel or not renew mining licence without compensation
195 Licence rights may be suspended
196 Compensation for acquisition of property due to suspension of rights
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Division 2—Application for and grant of mining licence over standard blocks
197 Application for mining licence over vacant standard block
198 Holder of exploration licence or retention licence may apply for mining licence
199 How to apply
200 Effect of inclusion of unavailable block in application
201 Payment of fee
202 Application must be advertised
203 How multiple applications are dealt with
204 Request for further information
205 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
206 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant mining licence
207 External territory offshore area—how application for mining licence dealt with
208 Refusal of application for mining licence made under section 198
209 Matters to be specified in the licence
210 Applicant must be notified
211 Amendment of conditions
212 Amendment of security requirements
213 Extension of primary payment period
214 Acceptance of grant of mining licence for standard block
215 Conditions applicable to licence on grant
216 Lapse of provisional grant of mining licence
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Division 3—Application for and grant of mining licence over tender block
217 Matters to be determined before applications for mining licence over tender blocks invited
218 Joint Authority may invite applications for mining licence over tender blocks
219 Tender block licence notice—mining licence
220 Application for mining licence over tender blocks
221 How to apply
222 Payment of fee
223 Request for further information
224 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
225 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant tender block mining licence
226 External territory offshore area—how applications dealt with
227 Successful applicant must be notified
228 Acceptance of grant of mining licence over tender blocks
229 Conditions applicable to licence on grant
230 Lapse of provisional grant of mining licence
231 Provisional grant to next applicant if grant lapses
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Division 4—Duration of mining licence
232 Initial term of mining licence
233 Term of renewal of licence
234 Effect of application for renewal on term of mining licence
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Division 5—Voluntary surrender of part of mining licence area
235 Voluntary surrender of blocks if discrete area remains
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Division 6—Application for and grant of renewal of mining licence
236 Application for renewal of mining licence
237 When must an application to renew be made?
238 How to apply for renewal
239 Request for further information
240 Payment of fee
241 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer renewal application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
242 Commonwealth State offshore area—provisional renewal of mining licence
243 External territory offshore area—how application for renewal dealt with
244 Matters to be taken into account in deciding whether to renew mining licence
245 Refusal of application for renewal
246 Applicant must be notified
247 Amendment of conditions
248 Amendment of security requirements
249 Extension of primary payment period
250 Acceptance of renewal of mining licence
251 Conditions applicable to licence on renewal
252 Lapse of provisional renewal of mining licence
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Division 7—Obligations associated with mining licence
253 General
254 Conditions of mining licence
255 No conditions requiring payment of money
256 Variation of conditions
257 Exemption from or suspension of conditions
258 Automatic suspension of conditions if licence rights are suspended
259 Work practices
260 Licence holder must comply with Royalty Act
261 Licence holder must keep specified records
262 Licence holder must assist inspectors
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Division 8—Expiry of mining licence
263 General
264 Voluntary surrender of mining licence
265 Cancellation of mining licence
266 Obligations of former mining licence holders and former associates
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Part 2.5—Works licences
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Division 1—General
267 Works licences
268 Activities authorised by a works licence
269 Joint Authority may cancel or not renew works licence without compensation
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Division 2—Application for and grant of works licence
270 Application for works licence
271 How to apply
272 Payment of fee
273 Applicant to notify licence holders affected by the application
274 Application must be advertised
275 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
276 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may provisionally grant works licence
277 External territory offshore area—how application for works licence dealt with
278 Matters to be specified in the licence
279 Applicant must be notified
280 Amendment of conditions
281 Amendment of security requirements
282 Extension of primary payment period
283 Acceptance of grant of works licence
284 Conditions applicable to works licence on grant
285 Lapse of provisional grant of works licence
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Division 3—Duration of works licence
286 Initial term of works licence
287 Term of renewal of works licence
288 Effect of application for renewal on term of works licence
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Division 4—Application for and grant of renewal of works licence
289 Application for renewal of works licence
290 When must an application to renew be made?
291 How to apply for renewal
292 Payment of fee
293 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer renewal application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
294 Commonwealth State offshore area—provisional renewal of works licence
295 External territory offshore area—how application for renewal dealt with
296 Applicant must be notified
297 Amendment of conditions
298 Amendment of security requirements
299 Extension of primary payment period
300 Acceptance of renewal of works licence
301 Conditions applicable to works licence on renewal
302 Lapse of provisional renewal of works licence
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Division 5—Obligations associated with works licence
303 General
304 Conditions of works licence
305 No conditions requiring payment of money
306 Variation of conditions
307 Exemption from or suspension of conditions
308 Work practices
309 Licence holder must keep specified records etc.
310 Licence holder must assist inspectors
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Division 6—Expiry of works licence
311 General
312 Voluntary surrender of works licence
313 Cancellation of works licence
314 Obligations of former works licence holders and former associates
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Part 2.6—Special purpose consents
315 Special purpose consents
316 Activities authorised by a special purpose consent
317 Application for a consent
318 How to apply
319 Payment of fee
320 Applicant must obtain agreement of exploration, retention and mining licence holders affected by the application
321 Applicant to notify works licence holders affected by the application
322 Commonwealth State offshore area—Designated Authority must refer application to Joint Authority if certain requirements met
323 Commonwealth State offshore area—Joint Authority may grant special purpose consent
324 External territory offshore area—how application for special purpose consent dealt with
325 Matters to be specified in the consent
326 Duration of consent
327 Conditions of consent
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Chapter 3—Registration and dealings
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Part 3.1—Registration
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Division 1—Preliminary
328 Registers to be kept
329 Associated document files to be kept
330 Form of register and document file
331 Correction of errors in the register
332 Inspection of register and documents
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Division 2—Matters to be entered in register
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Subdivision A—Licences
333 Licences
334 Renewal of licences
335 Extension of exploration licences
336 Expiry of licences
337 Variations etc. to licences
338 Transfer of licences
339 Other dealings in licences
340 Devolution of licences
Subdivision B—Caveats
341 Effect of a caveat
342 Lodgment of caveats
343 Form of caveat
344 Payment of fee
345 Caveat to be registered
346 Withdrawal of caveat
347 Form of withdrawal
348 Duration of caveat
349 Notice to caveat holder
350 Caveat holder may consent to approval or registration
351 Orders that can be made by a court in relation to caveats
Division 3—Miscellaneous
352 Fees for registration
353 Protection from legal actions
354 Appeals
355 Appeals against determinations under section 352
356 Supreme Court
357 Evidentiary value of register
358 Certified copy of document on associated document file
359 Certification of registration action
Part 3.2—Dealings in registered licences
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Division 1—Dealings in licences to be in writing and registered
360 Dealings in licences to be in writing
361 Dealings in interests in licences not effective until registered
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Division 2—Approval of transfer of licences
362 Transfers require approval by Joint Authority
363 Application for approval of transfer
364 Designated Authority may ask for further information
365 Joint Authority’s response to application for approval
366 Protection from legal actions
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Chapter 4—Administration
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Part 4.1—Information management
367 Designated Authority may ask person for information
368 Power to ask person to appear
369 Power to examine on oath or affirmation
370 Designated Authority may ask for documents
371 Designated Authority may ask for samples
372 Obligation to comply with request under section 367, 368, 370 or 371
373 Immunity from use of information etc. given in response to request under section 367, 368, 370 or 371
374 Restrictions on release of confidential material
375 Circumstances in which confidential material may be released
376 Certain reports to be made available
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Part 4.2—Monitoring and enforcement
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Division 1—Inspections
377 Compliance inspections
378 Powers exercisable in course of inspection
379 Inspection of licence related premises etc. without warrant
380 Inspection of other premises etc. with occupier’s consent
381 Inspection of other premises etc. with warrant
382 Procedure for obtaining warrant
383 Warrant authorises reasonable assistance and force
384 Occupier to cooperate with inspector
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Division 2—Directions
385 Directions by Designated Authority must be obeyed
386 Scope of compliance directions
387 Designated Authority may give directions
388 Direction may incorporate material in another document
389 Direction may impose absolute prohibition
390 Compliance direction may extend to associates
391 Holder to give notice of direction to associates
392 Power to give directions after licence etc. ends
393 Effect of a compliance direction on other instruments
394 Designated Authority may specify time for compliance
395 Designated Authority may take action if holder fails to comply
396 Costs incurred by Designated Authority in taking action under section 395
397 Defences to actions to recover debts
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Division 3—Securities
398 Securities
399 Determination of requirement to lodge security
400 Application of security
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Division 4—Restoration of environment
401 Removal of property from offshore area
402 Rehabilitation of damaged areas
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Division 5—Safety zones
403 Declaration of safety zone around a structure or equipment
404 Effect of declaration of safety zone
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Division 6—Offences
405 General regime for criminal offences
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Part 4.3—Review of decisions made about the offshore areas of external territories
406 Definitions
407 Review of delegated decisions
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Part 4.4—Procedures of Joint Authorities and Designated Authorities
408 Procedure of Joint Authority
409 Decision making
410 Opinion or state of mind of Joint Authority
411 Records of proceedings of Joint Authority
412 Signing of documents
413 Communications with Joint Authority
414 Ministerial colleague acting on behalf of responsible Commonwealth Minister
415 Acting responsible Commonwealth Minister
416 Circumstances in which confidential material released
417 Execution and issue of documents on behalf of Joint Authority
418 Service of notices on behalf of Joint Authority
419 Delegation by Designated Authority
420 Application of this Part to external territories
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Part 4.5—Inspectors
421 Appointment of inspectors
422 Identity cards
423 Return of identity card
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Part 4.6—Finance
424 Fees received on behalf of the Commonwealth
425 Payments by the Commonwealth to the States—Royalty Act payments
426 Payments by the Commonwealth to the States—other payments
427 Appropriation
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Chapter 5—Miscellaneous
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Part 5.1—Application of laws
428 State’s or external territory’s offshore laws apply to mineral exploration and recovery in offshore area
429 Criminal laws not applied
430 Laws inconsistent with Commonwealth laws not applied
431 Tax laws not applied
432 Applied laws not to confer Commonwealth judicial power
433 Applied laws not to contravene constitutional restrictions on conferring powers on courts
434 Applied laws not to appropriate Territory Consolidated Revenue Fund
435 Jurisdiction of State courts
436 Jurisdiction of Territory courts
437 Validation of certain actions
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Part 5.2—Miscellaneous
438 Service of documents on licence holders etc.
439 Vesting jurisdiction in State courts
439A Licences, and interests in licences etc., are not personal property for the purposes of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009
440 Regulations
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Schedule 1—Savings and transitional provisions
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Part 1—General
1 Correspondence of permits etc. under 1981 Act and licences under this Act
2 Correspondence of provisions
3 References in documents to provisions of the 1981 Act
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Part 2—Savings and transitional provisions applicable on the transition from the Minerals (Submerged Lands) Act 1981 to this Act
4 Instruments in force under the 1981 Act on the commencement of this Act
5 Regulations under the 1981 Act
6 Saving of application for permit etc. under the 1981 Act
7 Saving of exploration permits
8 Saving of instruments under the 1981 Act
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history
