House of Representatives

Explanatory Memorandum

Circulated By Authority of the Minister for Resources and Energy, the Honourable Martin Ferguson Am, Mp

NOTES ON INDIVIDUAL CLAUSES

Clause 1 - Short title

Clause 1 is a formal provision specifying the short title of the Bill.

Clause 2 - Commencement

Sections 1 to 3 in the Bill will commence the day the Act receives Royal Assent.

Schedule 1 will commence the day after the Act receives Royal Assent except for Schedule 1, Parts 7 and 8 which will commence on 1 January 2010, and Schedule 1, Part 15 which will commence as set out below.

The commencement of Schedule 1, Parts 7 and 8 coincides with the start of the next levy year following Royal Assent. This will make for an easier transition for safety levy arrangements for pipelines. Safety levies are calculated annually at the start of each calendar year. From this date, pipelines will be largely regulated under the safety regime and this is also the appropriate time for the repeal of the provisions requiring a consent to operate a pipeline.

Schedule 1, Part 15 will commence retrospectively, immediately after the commencement of Part 1 of Schedule 4 to the Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Act 2008 (i.e. immediately after the commencement of the greenhouse gas amendments and the renumbering of the whole Act). The commencement date of the present amendments is therefore 22 November 2008.

Because there are not yet any existing greenhouse gas titles (and so no petroleum titles to which the new process was intended to apply) and because compliance with the process in relation to all transfers and dealings in petroleum titles would have involved a considerable (and wasted) administrative effort both for the Commonwealth and the Designated Authorities, the process has in fact not been followed in relation to the many transfers and dealings that have been approved and registered by the Designated Authorities since the greenhouse gas amendments came into force. The proposed amendments therefore need to be made retrospective, to cure any technical defect in the approvals and registrations that might have resulted from non-compliance with the process.

Clause 3 - Schedules

This clause gives effect to the provisions in the Schedules to this Act.

Schedule 1 - Amendments

Part 1 - Access authorities

Item 1 - subsection 245(1)

This item includes in section 245 the same expedited consultation arrangements for the grant of an access authority in an adjoining offshore area as is already included in section 244 for consultation arrangements on the grant of an access authority in the offshore area of a single jurisdiction.

Where an exploration activity extends from one offshore area into another offshore area (e.g. from the offshore area of Western Australia into the offshore area of South Australia), section 245 currently stipulates that the DA into whose jurisdictional access is sought must carry out consultations, taking up to one month.

This item seeks to alleviate any time delays by allowing expedited consultation arrangements where the titleholders have consented to the access.

Item 2 - subsection 245(1)

This item allows that the amendment to subsection 245(1) only applies to applications for a petroleum access authority made after the commencement of this item.

Part 2 - Locations

Items 3-11 - Sections 95-96 and Part 2.2, Division 6

These items change the decision maker from the Designated Authority (DA) to the Joint Authority (JA) for the declaration of a location and in relation to nomination of blocks.

Currently Part 2.2, Division 6 (sections 128 to 133) provides that the DA (i.e. the relevant State or Territory Minister) may require the nomination of blocks and may declare a location over the blocks containing a petroleum discovery. The nomination of blocks and the declaration of a location is a necessary step before an exploration company applies for a retention lease to retain title over a currently non-commercial discovery or applies for a production license to develop a commercial discovery. The decision to grant a retention lease or a production license lies with the JA (i.e. the Commonwealth Minister and the relevant State Minister).

Amendments to these sections are appropriate given the Commonwealth Minister's influence on the subsequent retention lease and production licence process.

Item 12 - Transitional

This item allows decisions of the DA, in relation to locations, made prior to the commencement of this item to remain valid.

Part 3 - Petroleum scientific investigation consents

Items 13-14 - Subsection 253(1) and subsection 254(1)

These items change the decision maker for setting conditions for a scientific investigation consent (SIC) and for granting a SIC from the DA to the JA.

Currently sections 251 to 254 provide for the DA to grant a SIC to authorise petroleum exploration operations carried out for scientific research purposes. The United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea (UNCLOS) provides that all states have the right to conduct marine scientific research on the continental shelf with the consent of the relevant coastal state, which can include petroleum exploration operations. Given that SICs are in the Act to implement international obligations, it is appropriate that the Commonwealth Minister should have a role in granting the consent.

Item 15 - Transitional

This item allows decisions of the DA, in relation to a scientific investigation consent, made prior to the commencement of this item to remain valid.

Part 4 - Occupational health and safety provisions

Item 16 - Clause 41, Schedule 6

This item amends clause 41 of Schedule 6 so that it extends clause 89 of Schedule 3 to cover 'omitted offences' (i.e. offences against regulations set out or prescribed for the purposes of section 140H(2) of the repealed Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967 (PSLA) as in force during the period beginning on 1 January 2005 and ending immediately before the commencement of the Act. This amendment will ensure that the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) or an occupational health and safety (OHS) inspector is not prevented from instituting proceedings for omitted offences after the transition from the PSLA to the Act. The Act received Royal Assent on 29 March 2006 and on 24 June 2008 was proclaimed to commence from 1 July 2008.

Part 5 - Notification of discovery of petroleum

Item 17 - Subsection 284(1)

This item extends notification of discovery of petroleum to cover a petroleum production licence area. Notification of discovery is already required for an exploration permit area or a retention lease area.

By adding this requirement for petroleum production licence areas it is intended to capture knowledge of discrete accumulations and not incremental accumulations.

Item 18 - Subsections 284(2) and (3)

This item repeals the provisions to notify a discovery immediately and to provide a written notice within 3 days. The item sets the period for notification of a discovery to 30 days from the completion of the well that resulted in the discovery.

At 30 days the petroleum company has a more detailed knowledge of what has been located and of whether it may be commercial.

This amendment will result in a less onerous process for companies compared to the current process requiring immediate notification of a discovery.

Item 19 - Subsection 284(4)

This item amends subsection 284(4) to remove the reference to subsection 284(3) which is repealed by Item 18.

Item 20 - Paragraph 284(5)(a)

This item removes the reference to subsection 284(3).

Item 21 - Subsections 452(2) and (3)

Section 452 sets out requirements for the notification of discovery of petroleum in a greenhouse gas assessment permit area, a greenhouse gas holding lease area or a greenhouse gas injection licence area.

This item amends section 452 by repealing subsections 452(2) and (3) and substituting a new subsection 452(2). The requirements for immediate notification of discovery and for a written report within 3 days are removed and replaced by the requirement to notify the responsible Commonwealth Minister within 30 days.

Item 22 - Subsection 452(4)

This Item amends the reference in Subsection 452(4) to subsection 452(2) only.

Item 23 - Paragraph 452(5)(a)

This removes the reference to subsection 452(3) from paragraph 452(5)(a).

Part 6 - Datum

Item 24 - Section 42

This item includes greenhouse gas titles in the table of titles and instruments that may be annotated with a reference to the current datum.

Items 25-26 - Section 42

These items add a new note at the end of the table stating that a grant of a greenhouse gas holding lease may be a grant by way of a renewal.

Item 27 - Subsection 43(1)

This item includes greenhouse gas titles in the table of titles or instruments that may be described by the previous datum.

Item 28 - Sections 44 and 45

This item moves the authorisation from regulations directly into the Act to allow the Designated Authority (DA) to issue an instrument to vary petroleum titles and instruments, greenhouse gas titles and instruments, applications for petroleum titles and applications for greenhouse gas titles by re-labelling them using coordinates based on the current datum.

Item 29 - Chapter 4, Part 4.2

This item adds a new section to allow the DA to make a notation in the Register about the applicable datum for a petroleum title, petroleum special prospecting authority, notice or instrument. When a new Datum is gazetted there can be considerable work in re-labelling titles with new coordinates. This item allows the DA to make a notation in the Register rather than necessarily issuing an instrument as set out in Sections 44-45 for every change.

Item 30 - Chapter 5, Part 5.2

This item adds a new section to allow the responsible Commonwealth Minister to make a notation in the Register about the applicable datum for a greenhouse gas title, greenhouse gas search authority, notice or instrument (see item 29).

Item 31 - Transitional

This item allows variations, in relation to datum made to titles before the commencement of this item, to remain valid.

Part 7 - Pipeline safety management plan levy

Items 32-33 - Paragraph 683(d) and Section 688

These items remove references to the pipeline safety management plan levy. After the commencement of these items the levy raised on pipelines will be known as a safety case levy.

Item 34 - Application

This item provides for paragraph 683(d) and Section 688 to continue to apply in relation to pipeline safety management plan levy imposed and late payment penalty in relation to levy imposed as if the amendments in items 32 and 33 had not been made.

Part 8 - Consent to operate a pipeline

Item 35 - Subsections 210(3), (4), (5) and (6)

This item removes the requirement for the consent of the DA for a person to start operating a pipeline or to recommence operating a pipeline after a period of discontinuance.

From 1 January 2010, when the pipeline safety management plan levy for pipelines will be replaced by a safety case levy for pipelines, NOPSA will have an increased role in the regulation of pipelines. The DA will retain responsibility for pipeline licensing matters and the environmental regulation of pipelines.

Under this future regime, requiring a consent to commence operation of a pipeline would be duplicative and would add to compliance costs. Commencement of operations for a licensed pipeline will require acceptance of a safety case by NOPSA and acceptance of an environment plan by the DA.

Item 36 - Subsections 210(7) and (8)

As the previous item repeals subsections 210(3) and (5), this item removes reference to them in subsections 210(7) and (8).

Item 37 - Subsection 210(9)

This item removes subsection 210(9) which refers to provisions removed by Item 35.

Part 9 - Data management plans

Item 38 - Subsections 698(2), (3) and (4)

This item removes the requirement for a data management plan for petroleum titles.

The collection of data and samples is very important both as an aid to ensure the resource is being effectively managed and to provide to prospective exploration companies to encourage exploration of Australia's offshore areas. However, it is sufficient to require the data to be collected, stored and provided as set out in regulations without requiring a plan to state how the data is going to be collected, stored and provided.

Item 39 - Subsections 724(2), (3) and (4)

This item removes the requirement for a data management plan for greenhouse gas titles. See item 38.

Item 40 - Transitional

This item permits the continuance of data management plans already in force. It allows variation to those plans but does not permit renewal of the plans.

Part 10 - Occupational health and safety duties

Items 41-49 - Schedule 3, Clauses 9-15 and Clause 13A

These items make negligence the fault element of the Criminal Code that applies in Clauses 9-15 and the new Clause 13A of Schedule 3 to the conduct and result elements of the occupational health and safety (OHS) duties offence provisions. As a consequence, absolute liability will apply to the element that a person is subject to an OHS requirement.

The first element of each relevant OHS clause is (a) the person is subject to a requirement under subclause (1).

This element attracts absolute liability because it is a 'jurisdictional element'. A jurisdictional element is essentially a precondition of the offence. The person's state of mind with respect to that element has little, if any, bearing on their culpability. It is sufficient that a person is subject to a requirement under subclause (1) rather than that they knew they were subject to a requirement.

The other elements are (b) the person omits to do an act; and (c) the omission breaches the requirement. For each of these the fault element is negligence.

Negligence is a commonly used fault element in occupational health and safety matters. This is consistent with the criminal prosecution provisions of the Occupational Health and Safety Act 1991 and provides a more enforceable regime. Penalty provisions already set out in Clauses 9-15 and those in the new clause 13A are also consistent with the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

If intent were the fault element, having to require a prosecutor to prove that a person to whom the OHS clauses apply intended to omit to do an act would significantly reduce the likelihood of a conviction for OHS offences. This would frustrate the aims of the legislation.

The Senate Standing Committee For the Scrutiny of Bills, Sixth Report of 2002 and A Guide To Framing Commonwealth Offences, Civil Penalties and Enforcement Powers, 2004 have been considered in the revision of these clauses. The Attorney-General's Department was also consulted.

Item 47 - Clause 13A of Schedule 3

This item adds a new clause setting out that a titleholder has responsibility in relation to the design of a facility to ensure that it is safe and without risk to health. The same penalty provisions apply as set out in Items 41-46 and 48-49.

The responsibility for the design of the facility has always been the titleholder's. Since the introduction of amendments to the safety regime associated with the creation of NOPSA, only the facility operator could be prosecuted in the event of a breach of a drilling safety case (see Petroleum (Submerged Lands) (Management of Safety on Offshore Facilities) Regulations 1996). For drilling activities this is the drilling contractor. Similarly, the general duties under the work safety provisions of the Act rest with operators and employers (Schedule 3, Part 2).

In the event of an OHS incident, this amendment will permit NOPSA to seek prosecution of a titleholder in the event there is a failure in well design. Wells are defined in the Act to be part of a facility (see Schedule 3, Clause 4).

This amendment allows titleholders to be held responsible where they have contributed to the unsafe situation but it is not intended that it will shift responsibility from facility operators when they are at fault.

Part 11 - Maps

Items 50-51 - Subsections 6(3) and (4)

These items provide revised maps showing Australia's offshore areas, which include the findings of the United Nations Commission on the Limits of the Continental Shelf in April 2008 confirming the location of the outer limit of Australia's continental shelf in nine distinct marine regions and Australia's entitlement to large areas of continental shelf beyond 200 nautical miles.

Part 12 - Judicial review of administrative decisions

Item 52 - Schedule 3, Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

This item adds the Western Australian (WA) mirror legislation to the Act to Schedule 3. The legislation of other States and the Northern Territory has already been listed in that Schedule.

Part 13 - Greenhouse gas storage

Item 53 - Subsection 21(7A)

This item adds a new subsection to remove possible confusion between the requirements to identify an eligible greenhouse gas formation under section 21 and the requirements in subsection 388(8) requiring the responsible Commonwealth Minister to make a decision on an application for a site closing certificate within five years of the application being made. Section 21 requires an estimate of the earliest time the responsible Commonwealth Minister would be in a position to issue a site closing certificate. If this is taken to be a maximum of five years specified in subsection 388(8) it may lead to the identification of smaller than optimum storage formation areas. The new subsection will make it clear that such an estimate is to be made disregarding the maximum five year period set in subsection 388(8).

Item 54 - Paragraph 297(1)(b)

This item replaces the phrase "greenhouse gas holding lease over the block" with "greenhouse gas holding lease, or a greenhouse gas injection licence, over the block", removing some ambiguities in the Act in relation to the release of areas for greenhouse gas assessment. This will give effect to the intent of the policy approach that petroleum retention lessees and production licensees are given at least 60 days notice of the intention to release an area covering their lease or licence for greenhouse gas assessment.

Item 55 - Paragraph 297(3)(b)

This item inserts the words 'the day before' into the text to remove an inconsistency relating to the timing for release of areas for greenhouse gas assessment following the end of the 60 day notice period. Current text provides for the end of the notice period to be at the end of a nominated day, while release could be done at any time on that same day, including before the end of the notice period. The amendment, therefore, will require that release cannot occur until the day after the 60 day notice period is completed.

Item 56 - Paragraph 297(3)(d)

This item adds the words "or licensee" to the text, making it consistent with paragraph 297(3)(a). Without this amendment, the text is ambiguous because other parts of the Act make it clear that a production licensee can only apply for a greenhouse gas injection licence and not a greenhouse gas holding lease.

Item 57 - Paragraph 304(1)(b)

This item inserts missing commas which are needed to ensure clarity.

Item 58 - Paragraph 304(3)(b)

This item inserts the words 'the day before' into the text to remove an inconsistency relating to the timing for release of areas for greenhouse gas assessment following the end of the 60 day notice period. The amendment will require that release cannot occur until the day after the 60 day notice period is completed.

Item 59 - Paragraph 304(3)(d)

This item adds the words "or licensee" to the text, making it consistent with paragraph 304(3)(a).

Items 60-61 - Subsection 358(8) and 358(8A)

These items remove an inconsistency in the Act, in respect of a greenhouse gas injection licence awarded to a petroleum production licence holder. The Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Bill 2008, as originally introduced into the Senate, specified that an injection licence could only be granted to a production licensee in respect of greenhouse gases derived from the production licence in question. An amendment in the Senate added a paragraph extending these rights to include greenhouse gases from any source, provided that some of it is obtained as a by-product of petroleum recovery and subject to the responsible Commonwealth Minister being satisfied that the grant of the licence is in the public interest. The relevant paragraph appears in 370(c) of the Act.

However, Section 358 of the Act, dealing with conditions of injection licences, stipulates in subsection 8 that an injection licence granted to a production licence holder can only source greenhouse from the production licence and makes no provision for the circumstances covered by the amendment to the Act made in the Senate. The amended subsection 358(8) and the new subsection 358(8A) will remove this inconsistency, so that the amendments passed in the Senate have effect.

Item 62 - Subsection 374(4)

This item adds a new subclause to allow a variation of conditions to a greenhouse gas injection licence granted to a production licence, consistent with subsection 370(c). The extension of the rights of petroleum production licensees, as specified in section 370(c), has created two classes of injection licences granted to petroleum production licensees, without any capacity to convert from one type of licence to another, and without the difference in greenhouse gas source requirements necessarily having any continuing policy rationale. The new sub-clause allows the responsible Commonwealth Minister to vary the more restrictive greenhouse gas source requirement to the less restrictive source requirement, provided the variation is in the public interest.

Part 13A - Inquiries into significant offshore incidents

Items 62A-62C - Part 1.2, Division 1, Section 7

These items pertain to definitions and clarifications to the Act, relating to the Commission of inquiry.

Item 62A introduces the concept of a 'Commissioner' for the purposes of a Commission of inquiry under the Act.

Item 62B defines a 'Commission of inquiry' for the purposes of the Act.

Item 62C ensures that the term 'Royal Commission' is the same as used in the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

Item 62D - New Part 9.10A

These amendments form a new Part 9.10A to the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to govern Commonwealth inquiries into significant offshore incidents, in relation to petroleum activities and greenhouse gas activities under the Act.

New sections

Section 780A provides for the responsible Commonwealth Minister to appoint a person as a Commissioner, to conduct a Commission of inquiry, as well as the matters which the Commission may address. An appointment must be notified in the Gazette.

This section also confines the inquiry to incidents regarded as significant, and identifies the offshore operations that are within the scope of this section. This section should be interpreted broadly, and may include, for example, such specific matters as those listed in s782 of the Act.

Section 780B enables the Commissioner to conduct hearings for the purposes of the Commission of inquiry. Hearings may be conducted within or outside Australia, using procedures decided by the Commissioner.

Section 780C states that the Commissioner is not bound by the rules of evidence. This provision allows the Commissioner to seek and obtain a wide variety of information as necessary and relevant to the inquiry, without the strictures of judicial evidence rules. This will fulfil the purposes of this Part to determine the operational, human and regulatory factors contributing to a significant offshore incident, and apply this understanding to the prevention of such incidents in future.

Section 780D provides for the Secretary of the responsible Commonwealth Department to assign officers of the Department to assist the Commissioner in the conduct of a Commission of inquiry. It also specifies that once assigned, such officers will be solely under the direction of the Commissioner. This removes the possibility of conflicting directions and interests. By implication, the Department may contract other independent persons with relevant skills and expertise as required to assist in the inquiry and confer on them the powers of inspectors under section 780F.

Section 780E outlines the application of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 and provides the Commissioner with powers as outlined in the Royal Commissions Act 1902 for the purposes of the Commission of inquiry. These powers include, but are not limited to:

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the relevant enforcement and penalty provisions relating to powers under the Royal Commissions Act 1902, including those relating to witnesses and evidence; and

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the provision of the same protection and immunity as a Justice of the High Court to the Commissioner, those assisting the Commissioner, witnesses and others.

These powers specifically exclude those powers outlined in Sections 4 and 5 of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (relating to warrants and searches).

This section also outlines the application of s9, s10 and s16 of the Royal Commissions Act 1902 (relating to regulations and legal proceedings) to this section.

Section 780F allows the Secretary of the Department to confer inspection powers under the Act upon persons assisting the Commissioner of inquiry. The Secretary may determine that such persons have any or all of the functions and powers of a petroleum project inspector, a Greater Sunrise visiting inspector, a greenhouse gas project inspector, and an OHS inspector. These powers are defined in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006. These persons

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are subject only to the direction of the Commissioner, to preclude conflicting directions and interests;

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are required to carry an identity card issued by the Secretary of the Department, and return the card at the conclusion of their work for the Commission of inquiry; and,

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have all of the powers and functions of all of the inspectors under the Act, as well as those conferred by the Royal Commissions Act 1902.

Section 780G specifies that laws of the Commonwealth relating the disclosure of information for Royal Commissions also apply to a Commission of inquiry.

Items 62E- 62H - Amendments to the Archives Act 1983

These items introduce the concept of a Commission of inquiry under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to the Archives Act 1983 to ensure appropriate and lawful record keeping and archival of information relating to a Commission of inquiry.

Items 62J-62L - Amendments to the Freedom of Information Act 1982

These items introduce the concept of a Commission of inquiry under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to the Freedom of Information Act 1982. This is to ensure that a Commission of inquiry is exempt from the provisions of the Freedom of Information Act as per the amendments to the Quarantine Act 1908 for the Inquiry into Equine Influenza in 2007.

Items 62M-62N - Amendments to the Privacy Act 1988

These items introduce the concept of a Commission of inquiry under the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to the Privacy Act 1988. This is to ensure that a Commission of inquiry is exempt from the provisions of the Privacy Act as per the amendments to the Quarantine Act 1908 for the Inquiry into Equine Influenza in 2007.

Part 14 - Technical corrections

Item 63 - Subsections 222(2) and (5)

This item corrects an error in these subsections and sets out minor changes to headings in subsection 132(1) and sections 297, 304 and 346.

Item 64 - Schedule 6, Subclauses 36(2) and (4)

This item corrects a reference to a subsection with reference to a subclause.

Items 65-68 - Related Acts

These items amend the Acts set out to correct a reference to the interpretation section from a reference to section 6 to a reference to section 7. This has arisen through renumbering the Act.

Part 15 - Registration of transfers of, and dealings in, petroleum titles

Item 69 - Section 7

Item 69 introduces the concept of a 'referable title'. This is the class of petroleum titles to which the process requirement was intended to apply.

Item 70 - Section 467

Item 70 inserts a definition of 'referable title' into section 467. A 'referable title' is a petroleum title the title area of which overlaps the title area of a greenhouse gas title. It makes no difference whether the titles are held by the same, or different, title-holders.

Items 71-75 - Applications for approval of transfers of titles

Item 71 confines to referable titles only the requirement in paragraph 474(c) to provide 2 copies of the application and other documents. For other petroleum titles, under new paragraph 474(d), inserted by item 72, the requirement reverts to 1 copy, as it was prior to the greenhouse gas amendments.

Item 73 confines to referable titles only the requirement in section 475 that the DA forward to the responsible Commonwealth Minister ('the Minister') a copy of the application for approval of a transfer of title and related documents.

Items 74 and 75 amend section 478 to confine to referable titles only:

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the obligation of the DA to defer making a decision on an application until a direction or notification is received from the Minister

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the obligation of the DA to comply with a direction of the Minister; and

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the power of the Minister to give a direction.

Items 76-83 - Applications for approval of dealings.

Item 76 confines to referable titles only the requirement in subsection 489(4) to provide 2 copies of the application and other documents. For other petroleum titles, item 78 inserts new subsection 489(4A) under which the requirement reverts to one copy, as it was prior to the greenhouse gas amendments.

Item 79 inserts a new paragraph (aa) to subsection 489(5), which confines to referable titles only the requirement that 3 copies of documents lodged under section 263 of the Corporations Act 2001 be provided. For other petroleum titles, item 80 adds new subsection 489(6) under which the requirement reverts to 2 copies, as it was prior to the greenhouse gas amendments.

Item 81 confines to referable titles only the requirement in section 490 that the DA forward a copy of the application for approval of a dealing and related documents to the Minister.

Items 82 and 83 amend section 493 to confine to referable titles only:

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the obligation of the DA to defer making a decision on an application for approval of a dealing until a direction or notification is received from the Minister;

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the obligation of the DA to comply with a direction of the Minister; and

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the power of the Minister to give a direction.

Items 84-88 - Provisional applications for approval of dealings in future titles.

Item 84 confines to referable titles only the requirement in subsection 499(4) to provide 2 copies of the provisional application and other documents. For other petroleum titles, item 85 inserts new subsection 499(4A) under which the requirement reverts to 1 copy, as it was prior to the greenhouse gas amendments.

Item 86 inserts a new paragraph (aa) to subsection 499(5), which confines to referable titles only the requirement that 3 copies of documents lodged under section 263 of the Corporations Act 2001 be provided. For other petroleum titles, item 87 adds a new subsection 499(6) under which the requirement reverts to 2 copies, as it was prior to the greenhouse gas amendments.

Item 88 confines to referable titles the obligation to give a copy of the application and other documents to the Minister.