Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2004A00102
Timestamp: 2019-04-25 23:42:24+00:00

Document:
An Act to establish a Petroleum and Minerals Authority.
General Comments: The Petroleum and Minerals Authority Act 1973 was held by the High Court not to be a valid law of the Commonwealth. See State of Victoria and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another, State of New South Wales and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another, State of Western Australia v. Commonwealth of Australia, and State of Queensland and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another; 49 A.L.J.R. 243.
6.        Functions of Authority in relation to petroleum, &c.
13.       Power to enter land and take levels, &c.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 1.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 2.
2. This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by Proclamation.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 3.
"Territory" means an internal Territory.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 4.
4. The operation of this Act extends to the outer limit of the Australian continental land mass and applies to all persons, including foreigners.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 5.
5. There is hereby established an authority by the name of the Petroleum and Minerals Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 6.
Functions of Authority in relation to petroleum, &c.
(f)  to transport petroleum, petroliferous minerals, petroleum products and petrochemicals on the Australian continental land mass and between Australia and other countries.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 7.
Functions of Authority in relation to minerals.
(g)  to transport minerals, refined substances and manufactured materials and substances on the Australian continental land mass and between Australia and other countries.
"minerals" does not include petroliferous minerals.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 8.
(c)  to co-operate with authorities, organizations and other persons in formulating proposals designed to ensure that the recovery of petroleum and minerals so available is carried on in the best interests of the Australian people having regard to the long term needs of the Australian people.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 9.
Restrictions on exercise of functions.
(e)  in respect of matters incidental to or related to the performance of its functions in accordance with paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
(2) Sections 6, 7 and 8 shall be taken to confer on the Authority only functions that may be performed by the Authority in accordance with sub-section (1).
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 10.
10. (1) In relation to operations by way of exploration for, or recovery of, petroleum or a mineral, it is the duty of the Authority to make thorough preliminary investigations in accordance with generally accepted principles.
Australia from another country are available for use in Australia at any time when the exportation of petroleum or minerals of that kind to Australia is restricted or prohibited by the Government of another country.
(f)  to consider, in connexion with the exercise of any of its functions, factors connected with the ecology and the environment.
(e)  prevent water or any other matter entering a petroleum pool through wells in that area, except when required by, and in accordance with, good oil field practice.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 11.
11. The Authority has power to do, in Australia or elsewhere, all things necessary or convenient to be done for or in connexion with, or as incidental to, the performance of its functions under this Act.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 12.
(t)  to do anything incidental to any of its powers.
(2) Sub-section (1) does not authorize the Authority to enter into an agreement for the Authority to explore for, or recover, a substance, being petroleum or a mineral, for, on behalf of or in association with another person or body at any place on the Australian continental land mass unless that person or body is authorized to explore for, or recover, as the case requires, the substance at that place.
(3) The Authority is not authorized by paragraph (1) (q) to underwrite issues of shares in, or debentures or other securities of, a company or companies the nominal values of which exceed at any time in the aggregate such sum as the Treasurer determines.
(4) The power of the Authority to give guarantees in accordance with paragraph (1) (s) is subject to such limits as the Treasurer determines as to the total amount of moneys (other than interest) the payment of which may at any time be the subject of such guarantees.
are, or are proposed to be, carried on.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 13.
Power to enter land and take levels, &c.
(d)  exercise on land so entered the functions of an authorized person under this section.
(2) Where an authorized person enters upon land in accordance with sub-section (1), he shall, upon demand by the occupier of the land, produce to the occupier an instrument issued by the Authority certifying that he is an authorized person for the purposes of this section and, if the entry is in pursuance of a warrant, that warrant.
(3) A person shall not, without reasonable excuse, obstruct or hinder a person acting in pursuance of sub-section (1).
(b)  on land entered by him, to make surveys, take levels, sink bores, dig pits and examine the soil and do other acts necessary for that purpose.
(b)  a reference to land includes a reference to land owned or occupied by a State.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 14.
Power to enter and occupy land.
(d)  do that act on and over land so occupied.
(g)  to manufacture and work materials of any kind.
(3) The Authority may demolish, destroy or remove on or from land occupied by it in pursuance of sub-section (1) any plant, machinery, equipment, goods, workshop, shed, building or road constructed, built, placed or erected on the land in pursuance of that sub-section.
(4) The person shall not, without reasonable excuse, obstruct or hinder the exercise of the powers or rights of the Authority under this section.
(5) Before occupying land in pursuance of a warrant, the Authority shall, upon demand by the occupier of the land, cause the warrant to be produced to the occupier.
(6) In this section, a reference to land includes a reference to land owned or occupied by a State.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 15.
15. (1) The Authority shall comply with the directions (if any) of the Minister in relation to the performance of a function or the exercise of a power by the Authority under this Act.
(2) Without limiting the application of sub-section (1), where the Minister is satisfied that it is desirable to do so for the purpose of carrying out the policy of the Government of Australia with respect to aid for overseas countries, the Minister may direct the Authority to carry on outside Australia an undertaking or operation of a kind within the functions of the Authority and may give directions to the Authority with respect to the financial or other arrangements in accordance with which the Authority is to carry on the undertaking or operations.
(3) A direction received by the Authority under sub-section (1) or (2) shall be set out in the report of the Authority under section 53 with respect to its operations during the year in which the direction was received.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 16.
Authority to be a body corporate.
(d)  may sue or be sued in its corporate name.
(2) All courts, judges and persons acting judicially shall take judicial notice of the common seal of the Authority affixed to a document and shall presume that it was duly affixed.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 17.
(2) The members other than the Secretary shall be appointed by the Governor-General, the Chairman and the Executive Member being appointed as full-time members and the members referred to in paragraph (1) (d) being appointed as part-time members.
(3) A member other than the Secretary shall be appointed for such period, not exceeding 7 years, as the Governor-General specifies in the instrument of appointment, but is eligible for re-appointment.
appointment of the Executive Member.
(5) Notwithstanding sub-section 23 (3), until the appointment of the part-time members or the expiration of 6 months after the commencement of this Act, whichever first occurs, a meeting of the Authority at which the Secretary and the Executive Member are present shall be deemed to be a valid meeting and the remaining sub-sections of section 23 have effect as if the Secretary were the Chairman.
(6) The performance of the functions or the exercise of the powers of the Authority is not affected by reason of there being a vacancy or vacancies in the membership of the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 18.
18. (1) The Chairman and the Executive Member shall be paid remuneration at such respective rates, and annual allowances at such respective rates (if any), as the Parliament fixes, but, until 1 January 1975, those rates of remuneration and the rates (if any) of those allowances, shall be as prescribed.
(2) A part-time member shall be paid remuneration at such rate as the Parliament fixes, but, until 1 January 1975 the rate of that remuneration shall be as prescribed.
(3) A part-time member shall be paid such allowances (not including an annual allowance) as are prescribed.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 19.
19. The Minister may grant leave of absence to a member other than the Secretary on such terms and conditions as to remuneration or otherwise as the Minister determines.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 20.
20. The Chairman, the Executive Member or a part-time member may resign his office by writing under his hand delivered to the Governor-General.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT  1973 No. 43 of 1974 - SECT. 21.
21. (1) The Governor-General may terminate the appointment of the Chairman, the Executive Member or a part-time member for misbehaviour or physical or mental incapacity.
the Governor-General shall terminate the appointment of the member.
(3) A part-time member who is directly or indirectly interested in a contract made or proposed to be made by the Authority, otherwise than as a member, and in common with other members, of an incorporated company consisting of not less than twenty-five persons, shall, as soon as possible after the relevant facts have come to his knowledge, disclose the nature of his interest at a meeting of the Authority.
(b) shall be disregarded for the purposes of constituting a quorum of the Authority for any such deliberation or decision.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 22.
22. (1) Where the Chairman or the Executive Member is, or is expected to be, absent from duty or from Australia or there is a vacancy in the office of Chairman or Executive Member, the Minister may appoint a person to be acting Chairman or acting Executive Member, as the case requires, during the absence or until the filling of the vacancy.
(2) An acting Chairman or an acting Executive Member appointed in the event of the office of Chairman or Executive Member, as the case may be, becoming vacant shall not continue in office after the expiration of 12 months after the occurrence of the vacancy.
(3) If a part-time member is at any time appointed acting Chairman or acting Executive Member, his office shall, during the period of his appointment, be deemed, for the purposes of this section, to be vacant.
(4) Where a part-time member is, or is expected to be, unable (whether on account of illness or otherwise) to attend meetings of the Authority, or there is a vacancy in the office of a part-time member, the Minister may appoint a person to be an acting member during that inability, or until the filling of the vacancy, and the person so appointed has all the powers and functions of a part-time member.
(b)  at any time terminate such an appointment.
(6) The validity of a decision of the Authority shall not be questioned in any proceedings on a ground arising from the fact that the occasion for the appointment of a person purporting to be appointed under this section had not arisen or that an appointment under this section had ceased to have effect.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 23.
23. (1) The Authority shall hold such meetings as are necessary for the performance of its functions.
(b)  if there is a vacancy in the office of Chairman or the Chairman is absent from duty or from Australia-by the Secretary.
(3)  At a meeting of the Authority, three members constitute a quorum.
(4)  The Chairman shall preside at all meetings of the Authority at which he is present.
(5) If the Chairman is not present at a meeting of the Authority, the Secretary shall, if present at the meeting, preside at the meeting.
(6) If neither the Chairman nor the Secretary is present at a meeting of the Authority, the members present shall elect one of their number to preside at the meeting.
(7) Questions arising at a meeting of the Authority shall be determined by a majority of the votes of the members present and voting.
(8) At a meeting of the Authority, the person presiding has a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also has a casting vote.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 24.
24. (1) The Authority may, by instrument under the seal of the Authority, delegate to a member or to an officer or employee of the Authority, either generally or otherwise as provided in the instrument of delegation, all or any of its powers or functions under this Act, except this power of delegation.
(2) The power or function so delegated shall be exercised and performed by the delegate in accordance with the instrument of delegation.
(3) A delegation under this section is revocable at will and does not prevent the exercise of a power or the performance of a function by the Authority.
(4) A delegation under this section continues in force notwithstanding a change in the membership of the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 25.
25. (1) Subject to this section, the Authority may appoint such officers and engage such employees as it thinks necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(2) The terms and conditions of employment of persons appointed or engaged under sub-section (1) shall be as determined by the Authority.
(3) In making a determination with respect to the terms and conditions of employment of officers and employees of the Authority who are performing duties that are comparable with the duties performed by officers included in a class of officers of the Australian Public Service, the Authority shall have regard to the terms and conditions of employment of the officers included in that class.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 26.
Public Service Arbitration Act not to apply.
26. The Public Service Arbitration Act 1920-1972 does not apply in relation to the employment of officers or employees of the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 27.
27. Nothing in this Act prevents the making of an industrial award, order, determination or agreement under any Act (other than the Public Service Arbitration Act 1920-1972) in relation to officers or employees of the Authority or affects the operation of any such award, order, determination or agreement in relation to those officers or employees.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 28.
Power of Authority to provide benefits for officers and employees.
28. Subject to section 18, the Authority may pay any allowances, and pay or provide any other benefits (whether of a pecuniary nature or otherwise, including benefits by way of financial or other assistance in connexion with housing, transport, insurance or superannuation) for the Executive Member, or for an officer or employee of the Authority, that, in the opinion of the Authority, are necessary or desirable to assist the Executive Member, officer or employee in, or place him in a position that will facilitate, the performance of his duties or reimburse him for any loss or expenditure incurred by him by reason of, or in the course of, the performance of his duties or that in the opinion of the Authority, having regard to the interests of the Authority, are necessary or desirable for any other reason.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 29.
29. (1) The Authority is an approved authority for the purposes of the Superannuation Act 1922-1973.
(2) For the purposes of that Act, the Chairman and the Executive Member shall each be taken to be a person who is required to give the whole of his time to the duties of his office.
(3) For the purposes of the application of section 145 of the Superannuation Act 1922-1973, the Chairman and the Executive Member shall be deemed to be employed by the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 30.
(c)  the Officers' Rights Declaration Act 1928-1969 applies as if this Act and this section had been specified in the Schedule to that Act.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 31.
(b)  to permit the payment to Australia of a reasonable return on the capital of the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 32.
32. (1) The Treasurer may make available to the Authority, out of moneys appropriated by the Parliament for the purpose, such amounts as are, in the opinion of the Minister, required by the Authority.
(2) The capital of the Authority consists of the amounts made available by the Treasurer to the Authority under sub-section (1) less any amounts of capital repaid by the Authority to Australia.
(3) Interest is not payable to Australia on the capital of the Authority.
(4) The capital of the Authority is repayable to Australia at such times and in such amounts as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Treasurer, determines.
(5) For the purposes of a determination under sub-section (4), the Minister and the Treasurer shall have regard to any advice that the Authority has furnished to the Minister in relation to its financial affairs.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 33.
(b)  give security over any of its assets for the purpose of a borrowing referred to in paragraph (a).
(2) The Treasurer may, out of moneys appropriated by the Parliament for the purposes of this Act, make advances to the Authority of such amounts and on such terms as the Treasurer determines.
(3) The Authority shall not borrow otherwise than in accordance with this section.
(4) The Treasurer may, on behalf of Australia, guarantee the payment of amounts borrowed in accordance with sub-section (1) and the payment of interest on amounts so borrowed.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 34.
34. (1) The Authority may open and maintain an account or accounts with an approved bank or approved banks and shall maintain at all times at least one such account.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 35.
(c)  in any other manner approved by the Treasurer.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 36.
36. (1) For the purposes of this Act, the profits of the Authority for a financial year are the amount, if any, remaining after deducting from the revenue received or receivable in respect of that financial year the expenditure, and provision for expenditure, properly chargeable against that revenue, including provision in respect of income tax payable by the Authority in relation to that financial year.
(2) The profits of the Authority for a financial year shall be applied in such manner as the Minister, with the concurrence of the Treasurer, determines.
(3) In making a determination under sub-section (2), regard shall be had to any advice which the Authority has furnished to the Minister in relation to the financial affairs of the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 37.
Purchase and disposal of assets.
(d)  enter into a lease of land for a period exceeding 10 years.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 38.
Proper accounts to be kept.
38. The Authority shall cause to be kept proper accounts and records of the transactions and affairs of the Authority in accordance with accounting principles generally applied in commercial practice and shall do all things necessary to ensure that all payments out of its moneys are correctly made and properly authorized and that proper control is maintained over the assets of, or in the custody of, the Authority and over the incurring of liabilities by the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 39.
Accounts where Authority assists overseas country.
39. (1) The Authority shall keep a separate account of its receipts and disbursements in respect of an undertaking or operations carried on in accordance with a direction given under sub-section 15 (2).
the Authority is entitled to be reimbursed by Australia to the extent of that loss.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 40.
40. (1) The Auditor-General shall inspect and audit the accounts and records of financial transactions of the Authority and records relating to assets of, or in the custody of, the Authority and shall forthwith draw the attention of the Minister to any irregularity disclosed by the inspection and audit that is, in the opinion of the Auditor-General, of sufficient importance to justify his doing so.
(2) The Auditor-General may, in his discretion, dispense with all or any part of the detailed inspection and audit of any accounts or records referred to in sub-section (1).
(3) The Auditor-General shall, at least once in each year, report to the Minister the results of the inspection and audit carried out under sub-section (1).
(4) The Auditor-General, or an officer authorized by him, is entitled at all reasonable times to full and free access to all accounts, records, documents and papers of the Authority relating directly or indirectly to the receipt or payment of moneys by the Authority or to the acquisition, receipt, custody or disposal of assets by the Authority.
(5) The Auditor-General, or an officer authorized by him, may make copies of, or take extracts from, any such accounts, records, documents or papers.
(6) The Auditor-General, or an officer authorized by him, may require any person to furnish him with such information in the possession of the person or to which the person has access as the Auditor-General or authorized officer considers necessary for the purposes of the functions of the Auditor-General under this Act, and the person shall comply with the requirement.
(7) A person who contravenes sub-section (6) is guilty of an offence punishable, upon conviction, by a fine not exceeding $200.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 41.
41. (1) The Authority is subject to taxation under the laws of Australia.
(2) Subject to sub-section (3), the Authority is not subject to taxation under a law of a State or of a Territory.
(3) The regulations may provide that sub-section (2) does not apply in relation to taxation under a specified law of a State or Territory.
(4) The Authority is not a public authority for the purpose of paragraph 23 (d) of the Income Tax Assessment Act 1936-1973.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 42.
(b)  furnish to the Minister such information relating to those operations as the Minister requires.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 43.
Petroleum exploration areas and minerals exploration areas.
43. (1) The Authority may, by notice published in the Gazette, declare an area of the Australian continental land mass to be a petroleum exploration area or a minerals exploration area for the purposes of this Act and may, from time to time, by notice published in the Gazette, alter the boundaries of such an area.
the Authority shall notify in the Gazette its intention to do so.
unless the occupier of the land has consented in writing to the Authority entering upon the land, or the Authority has been granted a warrant under section 50 authorizing it to enter upon the land, for the purpose of commencing so to explore or to carry on those operations, as the case may be.
(4) Sub-section (3) does not apply to or in relation to exploration for, or the carrying on of operations for the recovery of, petroleum or minerals in a submarine area other than a submarine area below waters referred to in section 14 of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 44.
Purposes for which Authority may explore or mine for petroleum or minerals.
for a specified purpose, being a purpose of a kind referred to in paragraph 9 (1) (c) or (d).
(2) A declaration under sub-section (1) in respect of a petroleum exploration area or minerals exploration area may be included in a notice in respect of the area under sub-section 43 (2) or in a separate notice published in the Gazette.
(3) The Authority may, by notice published in the Gazette, vary or revoke a declaration under sub-section (1).
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 45.
Property in petroleum and minerals.
the petroleum becomes, or the minerals become, the property of the Authority.
(2) Where any petroleum becomes, or minerals become, the property of the Authority by virtue of sub-section (1), the Authority is liable to pay to the person (including a State) who was the owner of the petroleum or minerals immediately before it becomes or they become the property of the Authority such fair and reasonable compensation as is determined by agreement between the Authority and the owner or, in the absence of agreement, by action by the owner against the Authority in the Australian Industrial Court.
(b)  the court shall, in assessing compensation, have regard to all the circumstances of the case, including the work done by, or on behalf of, the Authority in exploring for petroleum or minerals, as the case may be, in that area and in extracting petroleum or minerals, as the case may be, from its or their natural site in that area.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 46.
Application of laws to the Authority.
46. Subject to this Act, the Authority is not subject to any requirement, obligation, liability, penalty or disability under a law of Australia, or of a State or Territory, to which Australia is not subject.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 47.
Authority to do as little damage as possible.
47. (1) In the exercise of its powers under this Act, the Authority shall cause as little detriment and inconvenience and do as little damage as possible.
(2) Where the owner of land is injuriously affected by the exercise, in relation to that land, of any of the powers conferred on the Authority by Part II of this Act, compensation shall be paid by the Authority.
(b)  the taking of sand, clay, stone, earth, gravel, timber, wood, materials or other things by the Authority in pursuance of section 14.
things are taken from land in pursuance of section 14 and are not the property of the owner or occupier of the land, sub-section (3) applies as if a reference to the owner or occupier of the land, or both, included a reference to the owner of the sand, clay, stone, earth, gravel, timber, wood, materials or other things.
(5) Nothing in this section shall be construed as excluding or limiting any liability of the Authority apart from this section in respect of a matter in relation to which compensation is not payable under this section.
(6) The provisions of section 19 of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955-1966 apply in relation to the determination of compensation payable by the Authority under this section in like manner as they apply in relation to the determination of compensation payable under that section, except that the references in that section to the Minister and to the Commonwealth shall be read as references to the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 48.
48. (1) For the purpose of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955-1966, the acquisition of land for the purposes of the Authority under this Act shall be deemed to be the acquisition of land for a public purpose.
(2) In the application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1955-1966 in relation to the acquisition of land for the purposes of the Authority under this Act, a reference in that Act to an interest in relation to land shall be read as including a reference to an easement in favour of the Authority without a dominant tenement, being an easement that confers on the Authority rights in, under, on, over, across or through the land for the purposes of the construction, maintenance and operation of a pipeline under this Act or for any purpose incidental to any of those purposes.
(3) An instrument by virtue of which an interest in land is acquired by the Authority, whether by agreement or by compulsory process, shall not be taken to create an easement in favour of the Authority of a kind referred to in sub-section (2) unless it is expressed to create an easement in favour of, or to transfer an easement to, the Authority.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 49.
Marking of route of pipeline.
49. The Authority shall mark, and keep marked, as provided in the regulations, the route of any pipeline constructed by it.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 50.
grant a warrant authorizing that authorized person to enter upon the land with such assistance as is necessary for the purpose of exercising the functions of an authorized person under that section.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 51.
Works not to be adversely affected.
51. (1) Except as prescribed, a person shall not carry out any work whereby any works, or proposed works, of the Authority, or the use, or the proposed use, of the works of the Authority, is or may be adversely affected or interfered with.
(2) An offence against sub-section (1) may be prosecuted summarily or upon indictment, but an offender is not liable to be punished more than once in respect of the same offence.
(b)  upon conviction on indictment-by a fine not exceeding $2,000 or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years, or both.
(4) Where proceedings for an offence against sub-section (1) are brought in a court of summary jurisdiction, the court may commit the defendant for trial or, with the consent of the defendant, determine the proceedings.
(5) This section does not prejudice any civil remedy available to the Authority.
(6) Nothing in this section shall be deemed to prevent or affect the operation of a provision in a law of a State prohibiting any acts which are also prohibited by this section.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 52.
with respect to offences against this Act or the regulations that are committed outside Australia and the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands.
(2) The jurisdiction invested in or conferred on courts by sub-section (1) is invested or conferred within the limits (other than limits having effect by reference to the place at which offences are committed) of their several jurisdictions.
(3) The trial on indictment of an offence against this Act not committed within a State may be held in any State or Territory.
and for holding accused persons to bail apply, as far as they are applicable, to a person who is charged in that State or Territory with an offence against this Act or the regulations that was committed outside Australia and the Territories.
(5) Except as provided by this Act, the Judiciary Act 1903-1969 applies in relation to offences against this Act or the regulations.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 53.
53. (1) The Authority shall, as soon as practicable after each 30 June, prepare and furnish to the Minister, for presentation to the Parliament, a report of its operations during the year ended on that date, together with financial statements in respect of that year in such form as the Treasurer approves.
(d)  as to such other matters arising out of the statements as the Auditor-General considers should be reported to the Minister.
(3) The Minister shall cause the report and financial statements, together with the report of the Auditor-General, to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after their receipt by the Minister.
(4) The first report and financial statements to be prepared and furnished to the Minister by the Authority under this section shall relate to the period commencing on the date of commencement of this Act and ending on 30 June 1974.
PETROLEUM AND MINERALS AUTHORITY ACT 1973 No. 43, 1974 - SECT. 54.
(c)  prescribing penalties, not exceeding a fine of $200 or imprisonment for a period not exceeding 6 months, or both, for offences against the regulations.
(2) Without limiting the generality of sub-section (1), the regulations that may be made under that sub-section include regulations making provision with respect to the manner of carrying on the operations of the Authority and for ensuring the safety of those operations and of persons engaged on those operations.
(3) The regulations may make provision of a kind referred to in sub-section (2) by providing for the application to or in relation to the Authority, with or without modifications, of any provisions of, or of any orders or directions under, a law of Australia or of a State or Territory as in force at a particular time or as in force from time to time.
1.  Act No. 43, 1974; assented to 8 August 1974.
The Petroleum and Minerals Authority Act 1973 was held by the High Court not to be a valid law of the Commonwealth. See State of Victoria and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another, State of New South Wales and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another, State of Western Australia v. Commonwealth of Australia, and State of Queensland and Another v. Commonwealth of Australia and Another; 49 A.L.J.R. 243.

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