Commonwealth Numbered Acts

OFFSHORE MINERALS ACT 1994 No. 28, 1994 - SECT 15

15.(1) If:

   (a)  an area is covered by a licence; and

   (b)  there is a change to the baseline of Australia's territorial sea; and

   (c)  as a result of the change to the baseline, the area ceases to be
        within an offshore area; this Act applies as if the area were still
        within the offshore area.

(2) Subsection (1) continues to apply to the area only while the licence (and
any successor licence) remains in force.

(3) If:

   (a)  an area in a State's coastal waters is covered by a State offshore
        mining licence; and

   (b)  there is a change to the baseline of Australia's territorial sea; and

   (c)  as a result of the change to the baseline, the area:

        (i)    ceases to be within the State's coastal waters; and

        (ii)   falls within an offshore area; this Act does not apply to the
               area.

(4) Subsection (3) continues to apply to the area only while the State
offshore mining licence (and any successor licence) remains in force.

(5) In this section:

"State offshore mining licence" means a licence granted under State law that
authorises the holder to:

   (a)  explore for or recover minerals (other than petroleum) in the seabed
        or subsoil under the State's coastal waters; or

   (b)  carry out related activities;

"successor licence" to a State offshore mining licence is a licence that is a
successor licence to that licence for the purposes of State law.