Commonwealth Numbered Acts

OFFSHORE MINERALS ACT 1994 No. 28, 1994 - SECT 59

59.(1) The Designated Authority may ask the applicant to discuss with the
Designated Authority the blocks covered by the application.

(2) The request under subsection (1) must be:

   (a)  made in writing; and

   (b)  given to the applicant.

(3) The Designated Authority for a Commonwealth-State offshore area must ask
the applicant to participate in discussions under subsection (1) if the
responsible Commonwealth Minister asks the Designated Authority to do so.

(4) If, after discussions, the Designated Authority and the applicant agree on
the blocks to be covered by the application, the applicant is taken to have
applied for an exploration licence over the blocks agreed on.

(5) The Designated Authority must give the applicant written confirmation of
the agreement as soon as possible after the agreement is reached.

(6) The Designated Authority may include in the written confirmation a
direction that the applicant must advertise the revised application under
section 60.

(7) If the Designated Authority and the applicant do not agree on the blocks
to be covered by the application:

   (a)  the Joint Authority may make a written determination specifying the
        blocks to be covered by the application; and

   (b)  the applicant is taken to have applied for an exploration licence over
        the blocks specified in the determination.

(8) The Designated Authority may include in the written determination a
direction that the applicant must advertise the revised application under
section 60.

(9) If the Joint Authority makes a determination under subsection (7), the
Designated Authority must give a copy of the determination to the applicant as
soon as possible after the determination is made.