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Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021
In force
Administered by
Department of Climate Change, Energy, the Environment and Water
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C2024C00657 (C03)
14 October 2024
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Chapter 1—Preliminary
Part 1—Introduction
1 Short title
2 Commencement
3 Object of this Act
4 Simplified outline of this Act
5 External Territories
6 Crown to be bound
7 Provisions to apply to certain offshore electricity transmission infrastructure subject to international obligations
Part 2—Definitions
8 Definitions
9 Datum provisions
10 Meaning of offshore renewable energy infrastructure
11 Meaning of offshore electricity transmission infrastructure
12 Offshore renewable energy infrastructure and offshore electricity transmission infrastructure
13 Meaning of renewable energy resource
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Chapter 2—Regulation of offshore infrastructure activities
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Part 1—Prohibition of unauthorised offshore infrastructure activities
14 Simplified outline of this Part
15 Prohibition of unauthorised offshore infrastructure activities in the Commonwealth offshore area
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Part 2—Declaring areas for offshore renewable energy infrastructure
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Division 1—Introduction
16 Simplified outline of this Part
Division 2—Declared areas
17 Declared areas
18 Notice of proposal to declare an area
19 Making a decision
20 Conditions that apply to a declaration
21 Period for which a declaration remains in force
Division 3—Varying a declaration
22 Variation to extend period or increase declared area
23 Variation of conditions, or to reduce declared area
24 Consultation on proposed variation
25 Varying a declaration to make minor and technical corrections
Division 4—Revoking a declaration
26 Revoking a declaration
27 Revoking a declaration—consultation
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Chapter 3—Licensing
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Part 1—Licences
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Division 1—Introduction
28 Simplified outline of this Part
29 Licensing scheme
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Division 2—Feasibility licences
30 Purpose of a feasibility licence
31 Activities authorised by a feasibility licence
32 Applications for feasibility licences
33 Grant of a feasibility licence
34 Merit criteria for a feasibility licence
35 Conditions that apply to a feasibility licence
36 Term of a feasibility licence
37 Extending the term of a feasibility licence
38 Varying a feasibility licence
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Division 3—Commercial licences
39 Purpose of a commercial licence
40 Activities authorised by a commercial licence
41 Applications for commercial licences
42 Grant of a commercial licence
43 Minister may require applicant to consult etc.
44 Merit criteria for a commercial licence
45 Conditions that apply to a commercial licence
46 Term of a commercial licence
47 Extending the term of a commercial licence
48 Varying a commercial licence
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Division 4—Research and demonstration licences
49 Purpose of a research and demonstration licence
50 Activities authorised by a research and demonstration licence
51 Applications for research and demonstration licences
52 Grant of a research and demonstration licence
53 Merit criteria for a research and demonstration licence
54 Conditions that apply to a research and demonstration licence
55 Term of a research and demonstration licence
56 Extending the term of a research and demonstration licence
57 Varying a research and demonstration licence
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Division 5—Transmission and infrastructure licences
58 Purpose of a transmission and infrastructure licence
59 Activities authorised by a transmission and infrastructure licence
60 Applications for transmission and infrastructure licences
61 Grant of a transmission and infrastructure licence
62 Merit criteria for a transmission and infrastructure licence
63 Conditions that apply to a transmission and infrastructure licence
64 Term of a transmission and infrastructure licence
65 Extending the term of a transmission and infrastructure licence
66 Varying a transmission and infrastructure licence
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Part 2—General provisions about licences
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Division 1—Introduction
67 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Licence transfers
68 Licences to be transferred only under this Division
69 Application for transfer
70 Minister may transfer licence
71 Licence transfer does not affect conditions or end day
72 Financial security for a transferred licence
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Division 3—Cancelling and surrendering licences
73 Cancellation of licence
74 Surrender of licence
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Division 4—Other general provisions about licences
75 False or misleading information
76 False or misleading documents
77 Interference with other activities by licence holder
78 Interference with other activities by other person carrying out activities under licence
79 No conditions about payment of money
80 Basis on which licences granted
81 Changes to the boundaries of the Commonwealth offshore area
82 Licences etc. are not personal property for the purposes of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009
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Part 3—Change in control of a licence holder
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Division 1—Introduction
83 Simplified outline of this Part
84 Meaning of control and change in control of licence holder
85 Meaning of approval period
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Division 2—Application and approval of change in control of a licence holder
86 Application for approval
87 Registrar must decide whether to approve change in control
88 Notice of decision
89 Retention and return of instrument
90 Limit of effect of approval
91 Notification of change in circumstances before or during approval period
92 Revocation of approval
93 Notification of change in control
94 Change in control information to be entered in Register
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Division 3—Change in control must be approved
95 Change in control must be approved by Registrar
96 Notification of change in control that takes effect without approval
97 Notification of change in control by licence holder
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Division 4—Information gathering powers
98 Registrar may obtain information and documents
99 Complying with information gathering notice
100 Power to examine on oath or affirmation
101 Self incrimination
102 Copies of documents
103 Registrar may retain documents
104 False or misleading information
105 False or misleading documents
106 False or misleading evidence
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Division 5—Tracing and anti avoidance
107 Tracing
108 Anti avoidance
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Division 6—Other provisions
109 Registrar etc. not concerned with the effect of instrument lodged under this Part
110 Falsified documents
111 Inspection of instruments
112 Evidentiary provisions
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Chapter 4—Management and protection of infrastructure
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Part 1—Management and operation of infrastructure
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Division 1—Introduction
113 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Management plans
114 Licensing scheme must provide for management plans
115 Matters that a management plan must address
115A Publication of summaries of plans and management plans
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Division 3—Operations
116 Maintenance and removal of property etc. by licence holder
116A Notification of offshore infrastructure activities
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Division 4—Financial security
117 Requirement to provide financial security
118 Contravention of requirement to provide financial security
119 Recovery and application of financial security
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Part 2—Directions powers
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Division 1—Introduction
120 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—General power to give directions
121 General power to give directions—Regulator
122 Directions under section 121 may extend outside of licence area
123 Directions under section 121—compliance
124 Regulator may take action if there is a breach of a direction under section 121
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Division 3—Remedial directions
125 Remedial directions—power to issue directions under different provisions
126 Remedial directions by the Regulator
127 Remedial directions by the Minister
128 Remedial directions—compliance
129 Regulator may take action if direction breached or arrangement not carried out
130 Removal, disposal or sale of property by Regulator—breach of direction
131 Removal, disposal or sale of property—limitation of action etc.
132 Minister may take action if direction breached or arrangement not carried out
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Division 4—Defence of taking reasonable steps to comply with a direction
133 Defence of taking reasonable steps to comply with a direction
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Part 3—Protection of infrastructure
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Division 1—Introduction
134 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Offence of interfering with infrastructure
135 Interfering with infrastructure
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Division 3—Safety zones
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Subdivision A—Safety zones
136 Safety zones
137 Determination on Regulator’s initiative or in response to application
138 When a determination takes effect
139 Offences of entering or being present in a safety zone
Subdivision B—Authorised safety zone officials and powers in relation to safety zones
140 Authorised safety zone officials
141 Requirement to move vessel etc.
Division 4—Protection zones
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Subdivision A—Determinations
142 Regulator may determine a protection zone
143 Determination on Regulator’s initiative or in response to application
144 Prohibited activities
145 Restricted activities
146 When a determination takes effect
147 Determination continues in effect even if infrastructure ceases to operate
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Subdivision B—Offences in relation to protection zones
148 Engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
149 Defences to offence of engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
150 Master or owner of vessel used in offence of engaging in prohibited or restricted activities
151 Foreign nationals and foreign vessels
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Chapter 5—Administration
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Part 1—Offshore Infrastructure Registrar
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Division 1—Introduction
152 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Offshore Infrastructure Registrar
153 Offshore Infrastructure Registrar
154 Functions of the Registrar
155 Powers of the Registrar
156 Delegation by the Registrar
157 Consultants
158 Registrar to be assisted by APS employees made available
159 Annual report
160 Reviews of activities of Registrar
161 Judicial notice of signature of the Registrar
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Division 3—The Register of Offshore Infrastructure Licences
162 Register to be kept
163 Records to be made in Register
164 Entry in Register—events affecting a licence
165 Other instruments or notices to be included in register
166 Notation in Register—applicable datum
167 Material that must not be included in a record for a licence
168 Notification requirements—licence holder
169 Evidentiary provisions
170 Corrections of clerical errors or obvious defects
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Division 4—Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
171 Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
172 Credits to the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
173 Purposes of the Offshore Infrastructure Registrar Special Account
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Part 2—Offshore Infrastructure Regulator
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Division 1—Introduction
174 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—The Regulator
175 The Regulator
176 The CEO of the Regulator
177 Functions of the Regulator
178 Powers of the Regulator
179 Delegation by the Regulator
180 Consultants and persons seconded to the Regulator
181 Minister may require Regulator to prepare reports or give information
182 Minister may give directions to Regulator
183 Additional functions and powers
184 Annual reports
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Division 3—Other financial matters
185 Money received by the Regulator
186 Commonwealth payments to the Regulator
187 Application of money of the Regulator
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Part 3—Fees and offshore electricity infrastructure levy
188 Simplified outline of this Part
189 Fees
190 Offshore electricity infrastructure levy
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Part 4—Compliance and enforcement
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Division 1—Introduction
191 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—OEI inspectors
192 OEI inspectors—appointment
193 OEI inspectors—directions by Regulator
194 OEI inspectors—reimbursement for exercise of powers relating to the Registrar
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Division 3—Monitoring and investigation powers
195 Monitoring powers (general)
196 Investigation powers (general)
197 Monitoring and investigation powers (special provisions)
198 Monitoring powers (entering offshore premises without warrant)
199 Investigation powers (entering offshore premises without warrant)
200 Monitoring and investigation powers (reasonable facilities and assistance)
201 OEI inspections—licence holder’s representative
202 Monitoring and investigation powers (relationship with other powers)
203 Obstructing or hindering OEI inspector
204 OEI inspections—reports
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Division 4—Compliance powers
205 Do not disturb notices—issue
206 Do not disturb notices—notification and display
207 Prohibition notices—issue
208 Prohibition notices—notification
209 Improvement notices—issue
210 Improvement notices—compliance
211 Tampering with and removing notices
212 Publishing prohibition notices and improvement notices
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Division 5—Civil penalties
213 Civil penalty provisions
214 Contravening civil penalty provisions
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Division 6—Infringement notices
215 Infringement notices
216 Evidentiary matters
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Division 7—Injunctions
217 Injunctions
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Division 8—Enforceable undertakings
218 Enforceable undertakings
219 Publication of enforceable undertakings
220 Compliance with enforceable undertaking
221 Listed WHS laws
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Division 9—Adverse publicity orders
222 Adverse publicity orders
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Division 10—Miscellaneous
223 Physical elements of offences
224 Contravening offence and civil penalty provisions
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Chapter 6—Application of work health and safety laws and other laws
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Part 1—Work Health and Safety
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Division 1—Introduction
225 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Application of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
226 Application of the Work Health and Safety Act 2011
227 References to Comcare
228 Section 4 (definitions)
229 Section 4 (definition of inspector)
230 Section 12 (scope)
231 Section 12A (Act does not apply to certain vessels, structures and facilities)
232 Division 3 of Part 2 (further duties of persons conducting businesses or undertakings)
233 Section 37 (what is a dangerous incident)
234 Section 90 (provisional improvement notices)
235 Section 92 (contents of provisional improvement notice)
236 Section 102 (decision of inspector on review of provisional improvement notice)
237 Part 7 (workplace entry by WHS entry permit holders)
238 Parts 8 to 11
239 Division 1 of Part 14 (general provisions)
240 Section 274 (approved codes of practice)
241 Schedule 2 (the regulator and local tripartite consultation arrangements and other local arrangements)
242 Schedule 3 (regulation making powers)
243 Regulations under the Work Health and Safety Act
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Division 3—Other work health and safety provisions
244 Functions and powers of OEI inspectors
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Part 2—Application of State and Territory laws in Commonwealth offshore area
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Division 1—Introduction
245 Simplified outline of this Part
246 Laws that this Part applies to
247 Meaning of included offshore area of a State or Territory
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Division 2—Application of State and Territory laws
248 Application of State and Territory laws in offshore areas
249 Disapplication and modification of laws
250 Limit on application of laws
251 Inconsistent law not applied
252 Criminal laws not applied
253 Tax laws not applied
254 Appropriation law not applied
255 Applied laws not to confer Commonwealth judicial power
256 Applied laws not to contravene constitutional restrictions on conferral of powers on courts
257 No limits on ordinary operation of law
258 Jurisdiction of State courts
259 Jurisdiction of Territory courts
260 Validation of certain acts
261 Certain provisions not affected by this Part
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Chapter 7—Information relating to offshore infrastructure
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Part 1—Managing data and gathering information
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Division 1—Introduction
262 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Data management
263 Data management directions—offshore infrastructure activities
264 Data management directions—merit criteria
265 Data management directions—giving a data management direction
266 Minister may give directions to Registrar
267 Complying with data management directions
268 Regulations about data management
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Division 3—Information gathering
269 Information gathering notices
270 Complying with information gathering notice
271 Copying documents—reasonable compensation
272 Power to examine on oath or affirmation
273 Self incrimination
274 Copies of documents
275 Registrar or OEI inspector may retain documents
276 False or misleading information
277 False or misleading documents
278 False or misleading evidence
279 Directions by Registrar
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Part 2—Release of regulatory information
280 Simplified outline of this Part
281 Registrar to make documents available to the Minister
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Part 3—Release of information given to Registrar
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Division 1—Introduction
282 Simplified outline of this Part
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Division 2—Protection of confidentiality of information
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Subdivision A—Documentary information obtained by the Registrar
283 Protection of confidentiality of documentary information obtained by the Registrar
284 Registrar may make information available to a Minister, a State Minister or a Territory Minister
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Subdivision B—Documentary information obtained by a Minister
285 Protection of confidentiality
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Subdivision C—Miscellaneous
286 Fees
287 Review by Minister
288 Privacy Act
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Division 3—Copyright
289 Publishing or making copies of applicable documents not an infringement of copyright
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Part 4—Using and sharing offshore infrastructure information and things
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Division 1—Introduction
290 Simplified outline of this Part
291 Scope of Part
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Division 2—Regulator’s use of offshore infrastructure information or things
292 Purposes for which Regulator may use offshore infrastructure information or things
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Division 3—Sharing offshore infrastructure information or things
293 Sharing offshore infrastructure information or things for the purposes of this Act
294 Regulator may share offshore infrastructure information or things with other agencies
295 Personal information
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Chapter 8—Miscellaneous
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Part 1—Miscellaneous provisions
296 Simplified outline of this Part
297 Review of decisions
298 Application of the Lands Acquisition Act 1989
299 Jurisdiction of State courts
300 Jurisdiction of Territory courts
301 Liability for acts and omissions
302 Compensation for acquisition of property
303 Delegation by Minister
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Part 2—Regulations
304 Simplified outline of this Part
305 Regulations
306 Regulations may provide for offences
307 Regulations may provide for approved forms
308 Regulations dealing with the Regulatory Powers Act
309 Pre existing infrastructure
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Endnotes
Endnote 1—About the endnotes
Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
Endnote 3—Legislation history
Endnote 4—Amendment history