Source: https://www.legislation.gov.au/Details/C2019B00048/Controls/
Timestamp: 2020-04-04 06:25:57
Document Index: 385447853

Matched Legal Cases: ['art 3', 'art 9', 'art 7', 'art 9', 'art 4', 'art 3', 'art 4', 'art 9', 'art 10', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 3', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 1', 'art 2']

Details: C2019B00048
- C2019B00048
A Bill for an Act to restrict activities in relation to thermal coal, and for related purposes
C2019B00048
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 8
Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 15
This Act is the Coal Prohibition (Quit Coal) Act 2019.
thermal coal means coal that is not coking coal.
2 Section 50 (heading)
50 Regulations may prohibit the importation of goods
3 After section 50
50A Prohibition of the importation of thermal coal
(1) The importation into Australia of thermal coal is prohibited unless:
(a) an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory provides a confirmation that states that the thermal coal is being imported for research, analysis or display; and
(b) a copy of the confirmation is produced to a Collector at or before the time of importation.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), thermal coal is not imported for research, analysis or display if the thermal coal is to be used for the purpose of, or for purposes that include the purposes of:
(a) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying (or research relating to the establishment, expansion, operation or modification of) a coal mine at which thermal coal is, or is to be, extracted (whether or not anything else is, or is to be, extracted at the mine); or
(b) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying (or research relating to the establishment, expansion, operation or modification of) a power station that generates, or is to generate, electricity from thermal coal (whether or not the power station also generates, or is also to generate, electricity from anything other than thermal coal).
After “section 50”, insert “or 50A”.
5 Section 112 (heading)
112 Regulations may prohibit the exportation of goods
6 After section 112
112AA Prohibition of the exportation of thermal coal
Prohibition of the exportation of thermal coal
(1) The exportation of thermal coal from Australia is prohibited unless:
(i) the thermal coal is exported before 2030 in accordance with a permission granted under subsection (3); or
(ii) an authority of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory provides a confirmation that states that the thermal coal is being exported for research, analysis or display; and
(b) the permission or a copy of the confirmation is produced to a Collector at or before the time of exportation.
(2) For the purposes of subparagraph (1)(a)(ii), thermal coal is not exported for research, analysis or display if the thermal coal is to be used for the purpose of, or for purposes that include the purposes of:
(a) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying, or research relating to the establishment, expansion, operation or modification of, a coal mine at which thermal coal is, or is to be, extracted (whether or not anything else is, or is to be, extracted at the mine); or
(b) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying, or research relating to the establishment, expansion, operation or modification of, a power station that generates, or is to generate, electricity from thermal coal (whether or not the power station also generates, or is also to generate, electricity from anything other than thermal coal).
Grant of permissions to export thermal coal
(3) The Minister may, on application in accordance with the regulations, grant a written permission to export thermal coal from Australia.
(4) A permission under subsection (3):
(a) must specify the quantity of thermal coal that may be exported in accordance with the permission in a specified calendar year (being a year earlier than 2030); and
(b) may specify any conditions or requirements to which the permission is subject.
(5) Subject to subsection (6), the quantity of thermal coal to be specified in a permission under subsection (3) in relation to a particular calendar year is the quantity specified in, or worked out in accordance with, the regulations.
(6) A permission under subsection (3) must not specify a quantity of thermal coal in relation to a particular calendar year if the total quantity of thermal coal specified in relation to that calendar year in permissions under subsection (3) will exceed the thermal coal exportation limit for that calendar year.
Thermal coal exportation limit
(7) For the purposes of this section, the thermal coal exportation limit for a calendar year specified in column 1 of an item in the following table is the quantity of thermal coal specified in column 2 of that item.
Thermal coal exportation limits
Quantity of thermal coal in kilotonnes per year
(8) The Minister may, in accordance with the regulations, revoke a permission granted under subsection (3) if the holder of the permission contravenes a condition or requirement referred to in paragraph (4)(b).
(9) Applications may be made to the Administrative Appeals Tribunal for review of a decision of the Minister:
(a) not to grant a permission under subsection (3); or
(c) to revoke a permission granted under subsection (3).
(a) a permission is granted under subsection (3); and
(b) the permission is subject to a condition or requirement to be complied with by the person; and
(d) the person’s conduct contravenes the condition or requirement.
(11) Subsection (10) is an offence of strict liability.
(12) Absolute liability applies to paragraph (10)(a), despite subsection (11).
(13) A person commits an offence if:
Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 20 penalty units, or both.
(14) Absolute liability applies to paragraph (13)(a).
112AB Prohibited exports
Goods, the exportation of which is prohibited under section 112 or 112AA, are prohibited exports.
7 After Subdivision FB of Division 1 of Part 3
Subdivision FC—Thermal coal
24F Requirement for approval of thermal coal activities
(1) A constitutional corporation, the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth agency must not take an action if the action involves thermal coal activity.
(2) A person must not take an action if:
(a) the action involves thermal coal activity; and
(iv) between 2 Territories.
(3) A person must not take an action if:
(4) Subsections (1), (2) and (3) do not apply to an action if:
(a) an approval of the taking of the action by the constitutional corporation, Commonwealth, Commonwealth agency or person is in operation under Part 9 for the purposes of this section; or
(b) there is in force a decision of the Minister under Division 2 of Part 7 that this section is not a controlling provision for the action and, if the decision was made because the Minister believed the action would be taken in a manner specified in the notice of the decision under section 77, the action is taken in that manner.
(5) A person who wishes to rely on subsection (4) in proceedings for a contravention of a civil penalty provision bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in that subsection.
24G What is thermal coal activity?
(1) A thermal coal activity means any of the following:
(a) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying a coal mine at which thermal coal is, or is to be, extracted (whether or not anything else is, or is to be, extracted at the mine);
(b) handling, stockpiling, processing or transporting thermal coal extracted from a mine;
(c) establishing, expanding, operating or modifying a power station that generates, or is to generate, electricity from thermal coal (whether or not the power station also generates, or is also to generate, electricity from anything other than thermal coal);
(d) any other action prescribed by the regulations.
(2) Despite subsection (1), an action referred to in that subsection is not a thermal coal activity if the primary purpose of the action is the rehabilitation of a mine.
24H Offences relating to thermal coal activity
(1) A constitutional corporation, or a Commonwealth agency that does not enjoy the immunities of the Commonwealth, commits an offence if the corporation or agency takes an action involving thermal coal activity.
Note 1: An executive officer of a body corporate convicted of an offence against this subsection may also commit an offence against section 495.
Note 2: If a person takes an action on land that contravenes this subsection, a landholder may commit an offence against section 496C.
(a) the person takes an action involving thermal coal activity; and
(i) a Territory; or
(ii) a Commonwealth area.
(4) Subsections (1) to (3) do not apply to an action if:
(a) an approval of the taking of the action by the person is in operation under Part 9 for the purposes of this section; or
8 Section 34 (after table item 13J)
9 After section 34E
34EA No declarations relating to thermal coal activity
The Minister must not make a declaration under section 33 relating to an action consisting of, or involving, thermal coal activity.
10 At the end of Subdivision C of Division 3 of Part 4
37K No declarations relating to thermal coal activity
The Minister must not make a declaration under section 37A relating to an action consisting of, or involving, thermal coal activity.
11 Section 37M
After “Part 3”, insert “, other than section 24F or 24H,”.
12 At the end of Division 6 of Part 4
43C This Division does not apply to thermal coal activity
This Division does not apply to an action consisting of, or involving, thermal coal activity.
13 At the end of section 49
(4) A provision of a bilateral agreement does not have any effect in relation to an action consisting of, or involving, thermal coal activity.
14 After paragraph 135(1)(a)
(aa) for the purposes of section 24F or 24H of an action involving thermal coal activity and that is taken:
(i) by a person for the purposes of trade or commerce between Australia and another country or between 2 States; or
(ii) by a constitutional corporation; or
15 At the end of Subdivision B of Division 1 of Part 9
141 No approval for action involving thermal coal activity unless for research etc.
(1) The Minister must not approve an action for the purposes of section 24F or 24H unless the Minister is satisfied that the action is to be undertaken solely for the purposes of research, analysis or display.
(2) For the purposes of subsection (1), an action is not undertaken for the purposes of research, analysis or display if the action is to be taken for the purpose of, or for purposes that include the purpose of:
(3) If the Minister approves an action for the purposes of section 24F or 24H because the Minister is satisfied that the action is to be undertaken solely for the purposes of research, analysis or display, the Minister must attach to the approval the condition that the action is undertaken solely for that purpose.
16 At the end of Subdivision C of Division 1 of Part 10
146MA No approvals relating to thermal coal activity
The Minister must not approve the taking of an action or a class of actions in accordance with an endorsed policy, plan or program if the action, or an action in the class of actions, consists of, or involves, thermal coal activity.
17 After subparagraph 495(2)(a)(via)
(vib) section 24H (Offences relating to thermal coal activity); or
18 After subparagraph 496C(1)(a)(viia)
(viib) section 24H (Offences relating to thermal coal activity); or
19 Section 528
thermal coal has the meaning given by section 24G.
thermal coal activity has the meaning given by section 24G.
20 Section 528 (definition of large coal mining development)
After “coal mining activity”, insert “(other than a thermal coal activity)”.
(1) Section 50A of the Customs Act 1901 as inserted by Part 1 of this Schedule applies in relation to the importation of thermal coal on or after 1 January 2030.
(2) Section 112AA of the Customs Act 1901 as inserted by Part 1 of this Schedule applies in relation to the exportation of thermal coal on or after 1 July 2019.
(3) Subdivision FC of Division 1 of Part 3 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, as inserted by Part 1 of this Schedule, applies in relation to:
(a) an action involving establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station that is taken on or after the day this item commences; and
(b) an action involving a thermal coal activity other than establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station that is taken on or after 1 January 2030.
(4) Sections 34EA and 37K of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999, as inserted by Part 1 of this Schedule, apply in relation to:
(a) a declaration, relating to an action involving establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station, made on or after the day this item commences; and
(b) a declaration, relating to an action involving a thermal coal activity other than establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station, made on or after 1 January 2030.
(5) The amendment of section 49 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 made by Part 1 of this Schedule applies:
(a) from the commencement of this item in relation to an action involving establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station; and
(b) from 1 January 2030 in relation to an action involving a thermal coal activity other than establishing or expanding a coal mine or a power station.
(6) The amendment of section 528 of the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 made by Part 2 of this Schedule applies in relation to:
(a) an action involving establishing or expanding a coal mine that is taken on or after the day this item commences; and
(b) an action involving a large coal mining development other than establishing or expanding a coal mine that is taken on or after 1 January 2030.
22 Constitutional matters
The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply to the extent (if any) to which their operation would result in an acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person otherwise than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph of the Constitution).