Minister
(1) Criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against:
(a) the Minister; or
(b) a delegate of the Minister;
because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the Minister by or under this Act.
Authority
(2) Criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against:
(a) the Authority; or
(b) a member of the Authority; or
(c) a member of the staff of the Authority; or
(d) a delegate of the Authority;
because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the Authority by or under this Act.
Persons specified in directions under this Act
(3) If a person was specified in a direction under this Act as mentioned in paragraph 11(2)(a) or (b), criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against the person because of an act done or omitted to be done in the exercise of any power conferred on the person by or under the direction.
Persons subject to directions under this Act
(4) If a direction under this Act is or was issued to a person, criminal or civil proceedings do not lie against the person because of an act done or omitted to be done in compliance with the direction.
(5) Subsection ( 4) does not apply to a proceeding under the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability) Act 1981 .
(5A) Subsection ( 4) does not apply to:
(a) a proceeding under the Protection of the Sea (Civil Liability for Bunker Oil Pollution Damage) Act 2008 ; or
(b) a proceeding on a maritime claim referred to in paragraph 4(3)(ba) of the Admiralty Act 1988 (about claims relating to bunker oil pollution damage).
(6) Subsection ( 4) does not apply to the extent to which it is inconsistent with an international agreement to which Australia is a party.
Compensation for acquisition of property
(7) This section does not apply to a proceeding under section 22.
Varied direction
(8) A reference in this section to a direction under this Act must, in the case of a direction that has been varied by a further direction issued under section 15, be construed as a reference to the direction as so varied by that further direction.
Application
(9) Subsections ( 1), (2), (3) and (4) do not apply to an act done, or omitted to be done, before the commencement of this section.