•   This Act sets up a system for regulating the following activities in offshore areas:

  (a)   exploration for petroleum;

  (b)   recovery of petroleum;

  (c)   construction and operation of infrastructure facilities relating to petroleum or greenhouse gas substances;

  (d)   construction and operation of pipelines for conveying petroleum or greenhouse gas substances;

  (e)   exploration for potential greenhouse gas storage formations;

  (f)   injection and storage of greenhouse gas substances.

•   An offshore area:

  (a)   starts 3 nautical miles from the baseline from which the breadth of the territorial sea is measured; and

  (b)   extends seaward to the outer limits of the continental shelf.

•   This Act provides for the grant of the following titles:

  (a)   a petroleum exploration permit (see Part   2.2);

  (b)   a petroleum retention lease (see Part   2.3);

  (c)   a petroleum production licence (see Part   2.4);

  (d)   an infrastructure licence (see Part   2.5);

  (e)   a pipeline licence (see Part   2.6);

  (f)   a petroleum special prospecting authority (see Part   2.7);

  (g)   a petroleum access authority (see Part   2.8);

  (h)   a greenhouse gas assessment permit (see Part   3.2);

  (i)   a greenhouse gas holding lease (see Part   3.3);

  (j)   a greenhouse gas injection licence (see Part   3.4);

  (k)   a greenhouse gas search authority (see Part   3.5);

  (l)   a greenhouse gas special authority (see Part   3.6).

•   Generally, the administration of this Act in relation to an offshore area of a State is the responsibility of the Joint Authority for the State. The Joint Authority for a State (other than Tasmania) is constituted by the responsible State Minister and the responsible Commonwealth Minister. The Joint Authority for Tasmania is constituted by the responsible Commonwealth Minister.

•   Generally, the administration of this Act in relation to the Principal Northern Territory offshore area is the responsibility of the Joint Authority for that area (the Joint Authority is constituted by the responsible Northern Territory Minister and the responsible Commonwealth Minister).

•   The responsible Commonwealth Minister is responsible for the administration of greenhouse gas injection and storage provisions.

•   The National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority is responsible for the administration of:

  (a)   occupational health and safety provisions; and

  (b)   structural integrity provisions; and

  (c)   environmental management provisions.

•   The National Offshore Petroleum Titles Administrator is responsible for:

  (a)   assisting and advising the Joint Authority and the responsible Commonwealth Minister; and

  (b)   keeping registers of titles; and

  (c)   data and information management.