ATOMIC ENERGY (CONTROL OF MATERIALS).

No. 27 of 1952.

An Act to amend the Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1946.

[Assented to 16th June, 1952.]

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 Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1952.

(2.)  The Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1946 is in this Act referred to as the Principal Act.

(3.)  The Principal Act, as amended by this Act, may be cited as the Atomic Energy (Control of Materials) Act 1946–1952.

Commencement.

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

Title of Crown to prescribed substances in Territories of Commonwealth.

3.    Section six of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from sub-section (1.) the word “is” and inserting in its stead the word “are”.

Power to enter on land, &c.

4.    Section ten of the Principal Act is amended by omitting sub- section (2.).

5.    After section thirteen of the Principal Act the following section is inserted:—

Mining of prescribed substances in Territories.

“13a.—(1.)   Where it appears to the Minister that any prescribed substances, or any minerals from which, in the opinion of the Minister, any prescribed substances can be obtained, are present on or under the whole or a part of an area of land in a Territory of the Commonwealth, either in a natural state or in a deposit of waste material obtained from any underground or surface working, the Minister may, by writing under his hand, authorize a person to carry on, on behalf of the Commonwealth, operations in accordance with this section on that land.

“(2.)    Subject to any conditions or restrictions specified in the authority, the person so authorized in relation to any land may—

(a) enter upon that land, with such workmen and other persons as he thinks fit, and bring on to that land such machinery, vehicles and other things as he thinks fit;

(b) take possession of the whole or a part of that land;

(c) carry on, upon or under that land, operations for discovering, and for mining, recovering, treating and processing, prescribed substances and such other minerals as he thinks fit;

(d) for the purposes of the operations referred to in the last preceding paragraph—

(i) erect or instal buildings (including residential buildings), structures and machinery on that land;

(ii) cut and construct water races, drains, dams, tramways and roads on that land;

(iii) bore or sink for water, and pump, raise or use water, on that land; and

(iv) do other work on that land;

(e) demolish or remove buildings, structures and machinery erected or installed on that land;

(f) pass over, or authorize persons and things to pass or be carried over, land giving access to that land; and

(g) do all such other things as are necessary or convenient for the effectual exercise of the powers specified in the preceding paragraphs of this section.”.

Compensation.

6.    Section fourteen of the Principal Act is amended by omitting from paragraph (b) the words “or thirteen” and inserting in their stead the words “, thirteen or thirteen a”.

Offences.

7.    Section fifteen of the Principal Act is amended—

(a) by omitting from paragraph (b) the word “or” (last occurring); and

(b) by inserting after paragraph (c) the following paragraphs:—

“(d) obstruct or hinder a person in the exercise of a power or authority conferred on him by or under this Act; or

“(e) except with the consent of the person in possession of the land, enter or be upon land of which a person is in possession in pursuance of this Act.”.