Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

OFFSHORE PETROLEUM AND GREENHOUSE GAS STORAGE ACT 2006 - SECT 305

Scope

  (1)   This section applies if:

  (a)   the responsible Commonwealth Minister publishes a notice under subsection   303(1) inviting applications for the grant of a greenhouse gas assessment permit over a block or blocks; and

  (b)   at the end of the period specified in the notice, only one application has been made under section   303 in relation to the block or blocks.

Offer document

  (2)   The responsible Commonwealth Minister may:

  (a)   give the applicant a written notice (called an offer document ) telling the applicant that the responsible Commonwealth Minister is prepared to grant the applicant a greenhouse gas assessment permit over that block or those blocks; or

  (b)   by written notice given to the applicant, reject the application.

Note 1:   Section   430 sets out additional requirements for offer documents (for example, a requirement that an offer document must contain a summary of conditions).

Note 2:   If the applicant breaches a requirement under section   429 to provide further information, the responsible Commonwealth Minister may refuse to give the applicant an offer document--see subsection   429(3).

  (3)   In deciding whether to give the applicant an offer document, the responsible Commonwealth Minister:

  (a)   must have regard to:

  (i)   the matters specified in the notice under paragraph   303(3)(b); and

  (ii)   the matters specified in subsection   (4); and

  (b)   may have regard to any other matters the responsible Commonwealth Minister considers relevant.

  (4)   The matters are as follows:

  (a)   whether the technical advice and financial resources available to the applicant are sufficient to:

  (i)   carry out the operations and works that will be authorised by the permit; and

  (ii)   discharge the obligations that will be imposed under this Act, or a legislative instrument under this Act, in relation to the permit;

  (b)   the matters specified in section   695YB as they apply to the applicant;

  (c)   if the applicant is a body corporate--the matters specified in section   695YB as they apply to an officer of the body corporate;

  (d)   any other matters prescribed by the regulations.