Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

OFFSHORE MINERALS ACT 1994 - SECT 55

    If:

  (a)   a person applies for a licence over a group of standard blocks; and

  (b)   because of section   18, 50 or 51:

  (i)   an exploration licence cannot be granted over one or more of the blocks in the group; or

  (ii)   the Joint Authority cannot grant the licence over one or more of the blocks in the group;

the Designated Authority and the Joint Authority may still deal with the application to the extent to which the application covers blocks:

  (c)   for which an exploration licence can be granted; or

  (d)   for which the Joint Authority does have power to grant the licence applied for.

Note 1:   An exploration licence cannot be granted over a block that is not vacant or is excluded (see sections   50 and 51) or over a reserved block (see section   18).

Note 2:   The Joint Authority for a State may grant a licence only over blocks in that State's Commonwealth - State offshore area.