Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

4............ Application of Act ............................................................................. 7

5............ Extension of Act to Territories ........................................................... 8

6............ Act binds Crown ................................................................................ 8

6A......... Application of the Criminal Code ...................................................... 8

7............ Application of other laws ................................................................... 8

7A......... Necessity to act in accordance with basic environmental principles .. 9

Part 2--Conservation of Antarctic fauna and flora                                            10

7C......... Specially protected species .............................................................. 10

8............ Antarctic specially protected areas etc. ............................................ 10

8A......... Historic sites and monuments .......................................................... 11

9............ Grant and renewal of permit ............................................................. 12

9A......... Authorities under permits ................................................................ 14

10.......... Restrictions applicable to permits .................................................... 14

11.......... Variation, suspension and revocation of permits ............................. 18

12.......... Variation and revocation of conditions ............................................. 19

Part 3--Environmental impact assessment                                                             20

12A....... Interpretation .................................................................................... 20

12B....... Object of Part ................................................................................... 20

12C....... Part does not apply to certain activities ........................................... 20

12D....... Preliminary assessment of likely impact of activity on Antarctic environment       20

12E........ Preliminary determination of likely impact of activity .................... 21

12F........ Activity to proceed if impact negligible ........................................... 21

12G....... Initial environmental evaluation ........................................................ 22

12H....... Determination of likely impact of activity based on initial environmental evaluation             22

12J........ Authorisation of activity likely to have minor etc. impact on environment             23

12K....... Comprehensive environmental evaluation ........................................ 23

12L........ Authorisation of activity likely to have more than minor etc. impact on environment            24

12M...... Notice of authorisation ..................................................................... 25

12N....... Variation, suspension and revocation of authorisation ..................... 25

12P........ Variation etc. of conditions ............................................................... 26

12PA..... Method of giving notice of variations etc. ........................................ 27

12Q....... Monitoring of activities .................................................................... 27

Part 4--Inspectors                                                                                                                 28

13.......... Appointment of inspectors .............................................................. 28

14.......... Inspectors ex officio .......................................................................... 28

15.......... Identity cards .................................................................................... 28

16.......... Arrest without warrant ..................................................................... 28

17.......... General powers of inspectors ........................................................... 29

18.......... Seizure .............................................................................................. 31

Part 5--Offences                                                                                                                    32

19.......... Offences relating to the environment ................................................ 32

19AA.... Offences relating to rocks and meteorites ......................................... 34

19AB.... Offence relating to return of indigenous species ............................... 35

19A....... Prohibition against mining in the Territory ...................................... 35

19B....... Prohibition against mining in the Antarctic ...................................... 35

19C....... Prosecution of offences .................................................................... 36

20.......... Contravening conditions of permits ................................................. 36

21.......... Furnishing information ..................................................................... 36

21AA.... Giving information about act done in emergency situation .............. 37

21AB.... Giving further information about act done in emergency situation .. 38

21A....... Unauthorised activities ..................................................................... 39

Part 6--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        40

25.......... Officers and employees of governments and authorities .................. 40

26.......... Programs etc. relating to the Antarctic ............................................. 40

27.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 40

28.......... Review of decisions .......................................................................... 40

29.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 41

Schedule 1--Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals            44

Schedule 2--English text of paragraphs 21, 31 and 36 of the report of the 1988 Meeting of the Representatives of the Contracting Parties to the Seals Convention        55

Schedule 3--Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty             56

Notes                                                                                                                                           101

An Act relating to the protection and conservation of the environment of the Antarctic

WHEREAS Australia is a Party to the Convention for the Conservation of Antarctic Seals:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make provision for giving effect to that Convention:

AND WHEREAS Australia is a party to the Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make provision for giving effect to that Protocol:

AND WHEREAS it is desirable to make other provision relating to the protection of the environment in the Antarctic:

BE IT THEREFORE ENACTED by the Queen, and the Senate and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

  

Notes to the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980

Note 1

The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 103, 1980 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 11 December 1992 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980	103, 1980	6 June 1980	Ss. 16-21: 6 Dec 1980 Remainder: Royal Assent
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985	65, 1985	5 June 1985	S. 3: 8 Jan 1987 (see Gazette 1986, No. S660) (a)	--
Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1986	76, 1986	24 June 1986	S. 3: Royal Assent (b)	S. 9
Civil Aviation Act 1988	63, 1988	15 June 1988	Part III (ss. 17-32), s. 98 and Parts IX, X (ss. 99-103): 1 July 1988 (see Gazette 1988, No. S189) Remainder: Royal Assent	S. 100(1)-(3)
Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992	156, 1992	11 Dec 1992	Ss. 1, 2, 29, 30: 11 Dec 1992 Ss. 4(2), 6(3), 10, 11, 12(3)(a), 13(5), 13(6), 17(4), 19(2), 25(2): 24 Nov 2002 Ss. 6(2), 9, 12(3)(b), 13(3), 13(4), 17(3), 18, 27, 31: 1 Mar 1998 (see Gazette 1998, No. GN8) Ss. 12(2), 17(2): 1 Apr 1994 Remainder:11 June 1993	S. 13(2), (4), (6) [see Table A]
Statute Law Revision Act 1996	43, 1996	25 Oct 1996	Schedule 2 (item 14): (c) Schedule 2 (item 15): (c) Schedule 2 (item 16): (c) Schedule 5 (items 13-15): Royal Assent (c)	--
Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999	92, 1999	16 July 1999	Schedule 4 (items 38, 39): 16 July 2000 (d)	--
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000	137, 2000	24 Nov 2000	Ss. 1-3, Schedule 1 (items 1, 4, 6, 7, 9-11, 32): Royal Assent Remainder: 24 May 2001	Sch. 2 (items 418, 419) [see Table A]
Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	15, 2001	22 Mar 2001	S. 4 and Schedule 1 (items 22-27, 31-39): 24 May 2001 (e) Schedule 1 (items 28-30): 24 Nov 2002 (e)	S. 4 [see Table A]
Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Antarctic Seals and Other Measures) Act 2006	164, 2006	11 Dec 2006	Schedule 1: 11 June 2007	Sch. 1 (items 89-92) [see Table A]

(a)     The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

                 (4)   The amendments of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 made by this Act shall come into operation on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

(b)    The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was amended by section 3 only of the Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1986, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(c)     The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 14-16) and Schedule 5 (items 13-15) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (2)   Each item in Schedule 2 commences or is taken to have commenced (as the case requires) at the time specified in the note at the end of the item.

         Item 14 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of subsection 12(2) of the Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992.

         Subsection 12(2) commenced on 1 April 1994.

         Item 15 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of subsection 19(2) of the Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992.

         Item 16 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of section 23 of the Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992.

         Section 23 commenced on 11 June 1993.

(d)     The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was amended by Schedule 4 (items 38 and 39) only of the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences when the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 commences.

(e)     The Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 22-39) only of the Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsections 2(1)(c) and (3)(b) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the latest of the following days:

                              (c)   the day on which item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 commences.

                 (3)   Items 28, 29 and 30 of Schedule 1 to this Act commence at the later of the following times:

                              (b)   the commencement of subsection 17(4) of the Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Preamble...................................	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 156, 1992
Part 1
Heading to Part 1......................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 3...........................................	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 63, 1988; No. 156, 1992; No. 164, 2006
S. 6...........................................	am. No. 156, 1992
S. 6A........................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 7...........................................	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 156, 1992; No. 92, 1999
S. 7A........................................	ad. No. 156, 1992
Part 2
Heading to Part 2......................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 7B.........................................	ad. No. 156 , 1992
	rep. No. 156, 1992
S. 7C.........................................	ad. No. 156 , 1992
	am. No. 164, 2006
S. 8...........................................	am. No. 156, 1992
	rs. No. 156, 1992
S. 8A........................................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 9...........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 43, 1996; No. 164, 2006
S. 9A........................................	ad. No. 164, 2006
S. 10.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 164, 2006
S. 11.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 43, 1996
S. 12.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 164, 2006
Part 3
Part 3 .......................................	ad. No. 156, 1992
Ss. 12A-12M............................	ad. No. 156, 1992
Ss. 12N, 12P.............................	ad. No. 156, 1992
	am. No. 164, 2006
S. 12PA....................................	ad. No. 164, 2006
S. 12Q......................................	ad. No. 156, 1992
Part 4
Heading to Part 4......................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 15.........................................	am. No. 43, 1996; No. 164, 2006
S. 16.........................................	am. No. 43, 1996
S. 17.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 43, 1996; No. 15, 2001; No. 164, 2006
S. 18.........................................	am. No. 43, 1996
Part 5
Heading to Part 5......................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 19.........................................	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 76, 1986; No. 156, 1992; No. 43, 1996; No. 15, 2001; No. 164, 2006
Ss. 19AA, 19AB.......................	ad. No. 164, 2006
Ss. 19A-19C............................	ad. No. 156, 1992
	am. No. 164, 2006
S. 20.........................................	am. No. 43, 1996
	rs. No. 15, 2001
	am. No. 164, 2006
S. 21.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 43, 1996; No. 15, 2001; No. 164, 2006
Ss. 21AA, 21AB.......................	ad. No. 164, 2006
S. 21A......................................	ad. No. 156, 1992
	am. No. 15, 2001; No. 164, 2006
Note to s. 21A(4)......................	ad. No. 15, 2001
Ss. 22, 23.................................	am. No. 43, 1996
	rep. No. 137, 2000
S. 24.........................................	rep. No. 156, 1992
Part 6
Heading to Part 6......................	ad. No. 156, 1992
S. 27.........................................	rs. No. 156, 1992
	am. No. 43, 1996
S. 28.........................................	am. No. 156, 1992; No. 164, 2006
S. 29.........................................	am. No. 65, 1985; No. 156, 1992; No. 164, 2006
Schedules
Heading to Schedule................	rep. No. 156, 1992
Heading to Schedule 1.............	ad. No. 156, 1992
Schedule..................................	ad. No. 65, 1985
Schedules 2, 3.........................	ad. No. 156, 1992

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Antarctic (Environment Protection) Legislation Amendment Act 1992 (No. 156, 1992)

13  Restrictions applicable to permits

             (2)  The amendments made by subsection (1) do not apply in relation to a permit granted before the commencement of that subsection.

             (4)  The amendments made by subsection (3) do not apply in relation to a permit granted before the commencement of that subsection.

             (6)  The amendments made by subsection (5) do not apply in relation to a permit granted before the commencement of that subsection.

Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 (No. 137, 2000)

Schedule 2

418  Transitional--pre‑commencement offences

(1)        Despite the amendment or repeal of a provision by this Schedule, that provision continues to apply, after the commencement of this item, in relation to:

                     (a)  an offence committed before the commencement of this item; or

                     (b)  proceedings for an offence alleged to have been committed before the commencement of this item; or

                     (c)  any matter connected with, or arising out of, such proceedings;

as if the amendment or repeal had not been made.

(2)        Subitem (1) does not limit the operation of section 8 of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.

419  Transitional--pre‑commencement notices

If:

                     (a)  a provision in force immediately before the commencement of this item required that a notice set out the effect of one or more other provisions; and

                     (b)  any or all of those other provisions are repealed by this Schedule; and

                     (c)  the first‑mentioned provision is amended by this Schedule;

the amendment of the first‑mentioned provision by this Schedule does not affect the validity of such a notice that was given before the commencement of this item.

Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 15, 2001)

4  Application of amendments

             (1)  Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.

Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Antarctic Seals and Other Measures) Act 2006 (No. 164, 2006)

Schedule 1

89  Saving provisions relating to amendment at item 13

(1)        If, immediately before subsection 9(1) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was repealed and substituted by item 13 of this Schedule, there was in force a permit granted under that subsection, that permit continues in force after the repeal and substitution as if it had been granted under subsection 9(1) as substituted by this Act.

(2)        Regulations that:

                     (a)  prescribed a form for the purposes of subsection 9(1) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980; and

                     (b)  were in force immediately before that subsection was repealed and substituted by item 13 of this Schedule;

continue to have effect after that repeal and substitution as if they had been made for the purposes of that subsection as substituted by this Act.

(3)        If, immediately before subsection 9(1) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was repealed and substituted by item 13 of this Schedule, the Minister had approved a form for the purposes of that subsection and had not revoked that approval, the Minister's approval continues to have effect after the repeal and substitution as if the approval had been made for the purposes of that subsection as substituted by this Act.

90  Saving provisions relating to amendment at item 78

(1)        Regulations that:

                     (a)  prescribed a form for the purposes of subsection 21(1) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980; and

                     (b)  were in force immediately before that subsection was repealed and substituted by item 78 of this Schedule;

continue to have effect after that repeal and substitution as if they had been made for the purposes of that subsection as substituted by this Act.

(2)        If, immediately before subsection 21(1) of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 was repealed and substituted by item 78 of this Schedule, the Minister had approved a form for the purposes of that subsection and had not revoked that approval, the Minister's approval continues to have effect after the repeal and substitution as if the approval had been given for the purposes of that subsection as substituted by this Act.

91  Permits granted under the Antarctic seals regulations

If, at the time the amendments made by Part 1 of this Schedule commence, a person holds a permit granted under the Antarctic Seals Conservation Regulations 1986, that permit:

                     (a)  is taken to be a permit granted under section 9 of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as in force after the commencement of this Schedule; and

                     (b)  continues in force for its unexpired period unless earlier varied, suspended or revoked in accordance with the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as in force after the commencement of this Schedule.

92  Applications for permits under the Antarctic seals regulations

If, at the time the amendments made by Part 1 of this Schedule commence, a person has made an application for a permit under the Antarctic Seals Conservation Regulations 1986 and the Minister has not yet granted or refused to grant that permit, the application is taken to have been made under section 9 of the Antarctic Treaty (Environment Protection) Act 1980 as in force after the commencement of this Schedule.