OFFSHORE ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACT 2021

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

[Index] [Table] [Search] [Search this Act] [Notes] [Noteup] [Download] [Help]

OFFSHORE ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE ACT 2021

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

Long Title

CHAPTER 1--Preliminary

PART 1--INTRODUCTION

1. Short title
2. Commencement
3. Object of this Act
4. Simplified outline of this Act
5. External Territories
6. Crown to be bound
7. Provisions to apply to certain offshore electricity transmission infrastructure subject to international obligations

PART 2--DEFINITIONS

8. Definitions
9. Datum provisions
10. Meaning of offshore renewable energy infrastructure
11. Meaning of offshore electricity transmission infrastructure
12. Offshore renewable energy infrastructure and offshore electricity transmission infrastructure
13. Meaning of renewable energy resource

CHAPTER 2--Regulation of offshore infrastructure activities

PART 1--PROHIBITION--OF UNAUTHORISED OFFSHORE INFRASTRUCTURE ACTIVITIES

14. Simplified outline of this Part
15. Prohibition of unauthorised offshore infrastructure activities in the Commonwealth offshore area

PART 2--DECLARING--AREAS FOR OFFSHORE RENEWABLE ENERGY INFRASTRUCTURE

Division 1--Introduction

16. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Declared areas

17. Declared areas
18. Notice of proposal to declare an area
19. Making a decision
20. Conditions that apply to a declaration
21. Period for which a declaration remains in force

Division 3--Varying a declaration

22. Variation to extend period or increase declared area
23. Variation of conditions, or to reduce declared area
24. Consultation on proposed variation
25. Varying a declaration to make minor and technical corrections

Division 4--Revoking a declaration

26. Revoking a declaration
27. Revoking a declaration--consultation

CHAPTER 3--Licensing

PART 1--LICENCES

Division 1--Introduction

28. Simplified outline of this Part
29. Licensing scheme

Division 2--Feasibility licences

30. Purpose of a feasibility licence
31. Activities authorised by a feasibility licence
32. Applications for feasibility licences
33. Grant of a feasibility licence
34. Merit criteria for a feasibility licence
35. Conditions that apply to a feasibility licence
36. Term of a feasibility licence
37. Extending the term of a feasibility licence
38. Varying a feasibility licence

Division 3--Commercial licences

39. Purpose of a commercial licence
40. Activities authorised by a commercial licence
41. Applications for commercial licences
42. Grant of a commercial licence
43. Minister may require applicant to consult etc.
44. Merit criteria for a commercial licence
45. Conditions that apply to a commercial licence
46. Term of a commercial licence
47. Extending the term of a commercial licence
48. Varying a commercial licence

Division 4--Research and demonstration licences

49. Purpose of a research and demonstration licence
50. Activities authorised by a research and demonstration licence
51. Applications for research and demonstration licences
52. Grant of a research and demonstration licence
53. Merit criteria for a research and demonstration licence
54. Conditions that apply to a research and demonstration licence
55. Term of a research and demonstration licence
56. Extending the term of a research and demonstration licence
57. Varying a research and demonstration licence

Division 5--Transmission and infrastructure licences

58. Purpose of a transmission and infrastructure licence
59. Activities authorised by a transmission and infrastructure licence
60. Applications for transmission and infrastructure licences
61. Grant of a transmission and infrastructure licence
62. Merit criteria for a transmission and infrastructure licence
63. Conditions that apply to a transmission and infrastructure licence
64. Term of a transmission and infrastructure licence
65. Extending the term of a transmission and infrastructure licence
66. Varying a transmission and infrastructure licence

PART 2--GENERAL--PROVISIONS ABOUT LICENCES

Division 1--Introduction

67. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Licence transfers

68. Licences to be transferred only under this Division
69. Application for transfer
70. Minister may transfer licence
71. Licence transfer does not affect conditions or end day
72. Financial security for a transferred licence

Division 3--Cancelling and surrendering licences

73. Cancellation of licence
74. Surrender of licence

Division 4--Other general provisions about licences

75. False or misleading information
76. False or misleading documents
77. Interference with other activities by licence holder
78. Interference with other activities by other person carrying out activities under licence
79. No conditions about payment of money
80. Basis on which licences granted
81. Changes to the boundaries of the Commonwealth offshore area
82. Licences etc. are not personal property for the purposes of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009

PART 3--CHANGE--IN CONTROL OF A LICENCE HOLDER

Division 1--Introduction

83. Simplified outline of this Part
84. Meaning of control and change in control of licence holder
85. Meaning of approval period

Division 2--Application and approval of change in control of a licence holder

86. Application for approval
87. Registrar must decide whether to approve change in control
88. Notice of decision
89. Retention and return of instrument
90. Limit of effect of approval
91. Notification of change in circumstances before or during approval period
92. Revocation of approval
93. Notification of change in control
94. Change in control information to be entered in Register

Division 3--Change in control must be approved

95. Change in control must be approved by Registrar
96. Notification of change in control that takes effect without approval
97. Notification of change in control by licence holder

Division 4--Information-gathering powers

98. Registrar may obtain information and documents
99. Complying with information - gathering notice
100. Power to examine on oath or affirmation
101. Self - incrimination
102. Copies of documents
103. Registrar may retain documents
104. False or misleading information
105. False or misleading documents
106. False or misleading evidence

Division 5--Tracing and anti-avoidance

107. Tracing
108. Anti - avoidance

Division 6--Other provisions

109. Registrar etc. not concerned with the effect of instrument lodged under this Part
110. Falsified documents
111. Inspection of instruments
112. Evidentiary provisions

CHAPTER 4--Management and protection of infrastructure

PART 1--MANAGEMENT--AND OPERATION OF INFRASTRUCTURE

Division 1--Introduction

113. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Management plans

114. Licensing scheme must provide for management plans
115. Matters that a management plan must address
115A. Publication of summaries of plans and management plans

Division 3--Operations

116. Maintenance and removal of property etc. by licence holder
116A. Notification of offshore infrastructure activities

Division 4--Financial security

117. Requirement to provide financial security
118. Contravention of requirement to provide financial security
119. Recovery and application of financial security

PART 2--DIRECTIONS--POWERS

Division 1--Introduction

120. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--General power to give directions

121. General power to give directions--Regulator
122. Directions under section 121 may extend outside of licence area
123. Directions under section 121--compliance
124. Regulator may take action if there is a breach of a direction under section 121

Division 3--Remedial directions

125. Remedial directions--power to issue directions under different provisions
126. Remedial directions by the Regulator
127. Remedial directions by the Minister
128. Remedial directions--compliance
129. Regulator may take action if direction breached or arrangement not carried out
130. Removal, disposal or sale of property by Regulator--breach of direction
131. Removal, disposal or sale of property--limitation of action etc.
132. Minister may take action if direction breached or arrangement not carried out

Division 4--Defence of taking reasonable steps to comply with a direction

133. Defence of taking reasonable steps to comply with a direction

PART 3--PROTECTION--OF INFRASTRUCTURE

Division 1--Introduction

134. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Offence of interfering with infrastructure

135. Interfering with infrastructure

Division 3--Safety zones

Subdivision A--Safety zones

136. Safety zones
137. Determination on Regulator's initiative or in response to application
138. When a determination takes effect
139. Offences of entering or being present in a safety zone

Subdivision B--Authorised safety zone officials and powers in relation to safety zones

140. Authorised safety zone officials
141. Requirement to move vessel etc.

Division 4--Protection zones

Subdivision A--Determinations

142. Regulator may determine a protection zone
143. Determination on Regulator's initiative or in response to application
144. Prohibited activities
145. Restricted activities
146. When a determination takes effect
147. Determination continues in effect even if infrastructure ceases to operate

Subdivision B--Offences in relation to protection zones

148. Engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
149. Defences to offence of engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
150. Master or owner of vessel used in offence of engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
151. Foreign nationals and foreign vessels

CHAPTER 5--Administration

PART 1--OFFSHORE--INFRASTRUCTURE REGISTRAR

Division 1--Introduction

152. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Offshore Infrastructure Registrar

153. Offshore Infrastructure Registrar
154. Functions of the Registrar
155. Powers of the Registrar
156. Delegation by the Registrar
157. Consultants
158. Registrar to be assisted by APS employees made available
159. Annual report
160. Reviews of activities of Registrar
161. Judicial notice of signature of the Registrar

Division 3--The Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences

162. Register to be kept
163. Records to be made in Register
164. Entry in Register--events affecting a licence
165. Other instruments or notices to be included in register
166. Notation in Register--applicable datum
167. Material that must not be included in a record for a licence
168. Notification requirements--licence holder
169. Evidentiary provisions
170. Corrections of clerical errors or obvious defects

Division 4--Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account

171. Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
172. Credits to the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
173. Purposes of the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account

PART 2--OFFSHORE--INFRASTRUCTURE REGULATOR

Division 1--Introduction

174. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--The Regulator

175. The Regulator
176. The CEO of the Regulator
177. Functions of the Regulator
178. Powers of the Regulator
179. Delegation by the Regulator
180. Consultants and persons seconded to the Regulator
181. Minister may require Regulator to prepare reports or give information
182. Minister may give directions to Regulator
183. Additional functions and powers
184. Annual reports

Division 3--Other financial matters

185. Money received by the Regulator
186. Commonwealth payments to the Regulator
187. Application of money of the Regulator

PART 3--FEES--AND OFFSHORE ELECTRICITY INFRASTRUCTURE LEVY

188. Simplified outline of this Part
189. Fees
190. Offshore electricity infrastructure levy

PART 4--COMPLIANCE--AND ENFORCEMENT

Division 1--Introduction

191. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--OEI inspectors

192. OEI inspectors--appointment
193. OEI inspectors--directions by Regulator
194. OEI inspectors--reimbursement for exercise of powers relating to the Registrar

Division 3--Monitoring and investigation powers

195. Monitoring powers (general)
196. Investigation powers (general)
197. Monitoring and investigation powers (special provisions)
198. Monitoring powers (entering offshore premises without warrant)
199. Investigation powers (entering offshore premises without warrant)
200. Monitoring and investigation powers (reasonable facilities and assistance)
201. OEI inspections--licence holder's representative
202. Monitoring and investigation powers (relationship with other powers)
203. Obstructing or hindering OEI inspector
204. OEI inspections--reports

Division 4--Compliance powers

205. Do not disturb notices--issue
206. Do not disturb notices--notification and display
207. Prohibition notices--issue
208. Prohibition notices--notification
209. Improvement notices--issue
210. Improvement notices--compliance
211. Tampering with and removing notices
212. Publishing prohibition notices and improvement notices

Division 5--Civil penalties

213. Civil penalty provisions
214. Contravening civil penalty provisions

Division 6--Infringement notices

215. Infringement notices
216. Evidentiary matters

Division 7--Injunctions

217. Injunctions

Division 8--Enforceable undertakings

218. Enforceable undertakings
219. Publication of enforceable undertakings
220. Compliance with enforceable undertaking
221. Listed WHS laws

Division 9--Adverse publicity orders

222. Adverse publicity orders

Division 10--Miscellaneous

223. Physical elements of offences
224. Contravening offence and civil penalty provisions

CHAPTER 6--Application of work health and safety laws and other laws

PART 1--WORK--HEALTH AND SAFETY

Division 1--Introduction

225. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Application of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011

226. Application of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
227. References to Comcare
228. Section 4 (definitions)
229. Section 4 (definition of inspector )
230. Section 12 (scope)
231. Section 12A (Act does not apply to certain vessels, structures and facilities)
232. Division 3 of Part 2 (further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings)
233. Section 37 (what is a dangerous incident )
234. Section 90 (provisional improvement notices)
235. Section 92 (contents of provisional improvement notice)
236. Section 102 (decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice)
237. Part 7 (workplace entry by WHS entry permit holders)
238. Parts 8 to 11
239. Division 1 of Part 14 (general provisions)
240. Section 274 (approved codes of practice)
241. Schedule 2 (the regulator and local tripartite consultation arrangements and other local arrangements)
242. Schedule 3 (regulation - making powers)
243. Regulations under the Work Health and Safety Act

Division 3--Other work health and safety provisions

244. Functions and powers of OEI inspectors

PART 2--APPLICATION--OF STATE AND TERRITORY LAWS IN COMMONWEALTH OFFSHORE AREA

Division 1--Introduction

245. Simplified outline of this Part
246. Laws that this Part applies to
247. Meaning of included offshore area of a State or Territory

Division 2--Application of State and Territory laws

248. Application of State and Territory laws in offshore areas
249. Disapplication and modification of laws
250. Limit on application of laws
251. Inconsistent law not applied
252. Criminal laws not applied
253. Tax laws not applied
254. Appropriation law not applied
255. Applied laws not to confer Commonwealth judicial power
256. Applied laws not to contravene constitutional restrictions on conferral of powers on courts
257. No limits on ordinary operation of law
258. Jurisdiction of State courts
259. Jurisdiction of Territory courts
260. Validation of certain acts
261. Certain provisions not affected by this Part

CHAPTER 7--Information relating to offshore infrastructure

PART 1--MANAGING--DATA AND GATHERING INFORMATION

Division 1--Introduction

262. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Data management

263. Data management directions--offshore infrastructure activities
264. Data management directions--merit criteria
265. Data management directions--giving a data management direction
266. Minister may give directions to Registrar
267. Complying with data management directions
268. Regulations about data management

Division 3--Information-gathering

269. Information - gathering notices
270. Complying with information - gathering notice
271. Copying documents--reasonable compensation
272. Power to examine on oath or affirmation
273. Self - incrimination
274. Copies of documents
275. Registrar or OEI inspector may retain documents
276. False or misleading information
277. False or misleading documents
278. False or misleading evidence
279. Directions by Registrar

PART 2--RELEASE--OF REGULATORY INFORMATION

280. Simplified outline of this Part
281. Registrar to make documents available to the Minister

PART 3--RELEASE--OF INFORMATION GIVEN TO REGISTRAR

Division 1--Introduction

282. Simplified outline of this Part

Division 2--Protection of confidentiality of information

Subdivision A--Documentary information obtained by the Registrar

283. Protection of confidentiality of documentary information obtained by the Registrar
284. Registrar may make information available to a Minister, a State Minister or a Territory Minister

Subdivision B--Documentary information obtained by a Minister

285. Protection of confidentiality

Subdivision C--Miscellaneous

286. Fees
287. Review by Minister
288. Privacy Act

Division 3--Copyright

289. Publishing or making copies of applicable documents not an infringement of copyright

PART 4--USING--AND SHARING OFFSHORE INFRASTRUCTURE INFORMATION AND THINGS

Division 1--Introduction

290. Simplified outline of this Part
291. Scope of Part

Division 2--Regulator's use of offshore infrastructure information or things

292. Purposes for which Regulator may use offshore infrastructure information or things

Division 3--Sharing offshore infrastructure information or things

293. Sharing offshore infrastructure information or things for the purposes of this Act
294. Regulator may share offshore infrastructure information or things with other agencies
295. Personal information

CHAPTER 8--Miscellaneous

PART 1--MISCELLANEOUS--PROVISIONS

296. Simplified outline of this Part
297. Review of decisions
298. Application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1989
299. Jurisdiction of State courts
300. Jurisdiction of Territory courts
301. Liability for acts and omissions
302. Compensation for acquisition of property
303. Delegation by Minister

PART 2--REGULATIONS

304. Simplified outline of this Part
305. Regulations
306. Regulations may provide for offences
307. Regulations may provide for approved forms
308. Regulations dealing with the Regulatory Powers Act
309. Pre - existing infrastructure

AustLII: Copyright Policy | Disclaimers | Privacy Policy | Feedback