(1)

The regulations may, for the purposes of safeguarding against unlawful interference with maritime transport, prescribe requirements in relation to the carriage and use of weapons in a maritime security zone or on board a regulated Australian ship.

(2)

The following matters may be dealt with by regulations made under subsection (1):

(a) authorising the carriage of weapons in a maritime security zone or on board a regulated Australian ship;
(b) dealing with a person in a maritime security zone or on board a regulated Australian ship who carries or uses a weapon, or is suspected of carrying or using a weapon, unlawfully;
(c) dealing with a weapon surrendered by a person in a maritime security zone or on board a regulated Australian ship.

(3)

Regulations made under this section may prescribe penalties for offences against those regulations. The penalties must not exceed:

(a) for an offence committed by a port operator, ship operator or port facility operator—200 penalty units; or
(b) for an offence committed by a maritime industry participant, other than a participant covered by paragraph (a)—100 penalty units; or
(c) for an offence committed by any other person—50 penalty units.

Note: If a body corporate is convicted of an offence against regulations made under this section, subsection 4B(3) of the Crimes Act 1914 allows a court to impose fines of up to 5 times the penalties stated above.