(1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act applies in relation to the offshore areas of the States and Territories as if references to Australia (when used in a geographical sense) included references to the offshore areas.
(2) The application of this Act in relation to the offshore areas of the States and Territories extends only in relation to acts, matters and things touching, concerning, arising out of or connected with the exploration of, or the exploitation of the resources of, the continental shelf of Australia.
(3) Without limiting subsection (2), the application of this Act in relation to the offshore areas of the States and Territories because of subsection (1) extends in relation to all acts done by or in relation to, and all matters, circumstances and things affecting, any person who is in the offshore area of a State or Territory for a reason touching, concerning, arising out of or connected with the exploration of, or the exploitation of the resources of, the continental shelf of Australia.
(4) In this section:
"offshore area" :
(a) of a State or a Territory other than the Northern Territory, has the same meaning as in the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 ; and
(b) of the Northern Territory, has the same meaning as Principal Northern Territory offshore area has in that Act.