Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsIf:
(a) a seafarer of a foreign vessel is left behind at an Australian port or dies in Australia; and
(b) the Commonwealth incurs expense in sending the seafarer, the seafarer's body or any property of the seafarer outside Australia;
the Commonwealth may recover the amount of those expenses from the owner, agent or master of the vessel in an eligible court as a debt due and payable by the owner, agent or master to the Commonwealth.