Northern Territory Consolidated Acts Northern Territory Consolidated Acts(1) This section applies if the holder of a mineral title under the Mineral Titles Act , or a licence or permit under the Petroleum Act , has given any of the following to a person as required by that Act:
(a) water samples of, and data about, underground water encountered during exploration drilling;
(b) a geological sample, including a drill core and cutting;
(c) a report relevant to the mineral title, licence or permit.
(2) The Controller may do any of the following:
(a) have access to anything mentioned in subsection (1)(a) to (c);
(b) arrange for an analysis of a sample mentioned in subsection (1)(a) or (b);
(c) obtain copies of reports mentioned in subsection (1)(c).
(3) Subsection (2) applies:
(a) regardless of any provision in the Mineral Titles Act or Petroleum Act relating to confidentiality; and
(b) without the need to obtain the permission of the holder of the mineral title, licence or permit.
(4) If, under this section, a person becomes aware of information to which confidentiality attaches under the Mineral Titles Act or Petroleum Act , the person must not disclose the information, or allow the information to be disclosed, to a person who is not an authorised officer.
Maximum penalty: $5 000.
(5) In this section:
"licence", see section 5(1) of the Petroleum Act .
"mineral title" means:
(a) a mineral title as defined in section 11(1) of the Mineral Titles Act ; or
(b) a non-compliant existing interest as defined in section 204(1) of the Mineral Titles Act .
"permit", see section 5(1) of the Petroleum Act .