(1) The regulations may make provision for and in relation to—
(a) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with operations in the offshore area under—
(i) a petroleum exploration permit; or
(ii) a petroleum retention lease; or
(iii) a petroleum production licence; or
(iv) an infrastructure licence; or
(v) a pipeline licence; or
(vi) a petroleum special prospecting authority; or
(vii) a petroleum access authority; or
(viii) a petroleum scientific investigation consent; and
(b) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and
(c) the giving to the Minister, or a specified person, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations.
(2) In particular, the regulations may establish a scheme that—
(a) applies in relation to operations in the offshore area under—
(i) a petroleum exploration permit; or
(ii) a petroleum retention lease; or
(iii) a petroleum production licence; or
(iv) an infrastructure licence; or
(v) a pipeline licence; or
(vi) a petroleum special prospecting authority; or
(vii) a petroleum access authority; or
(viii) a petroleum scientific investigation consent—
held by a person (the holder ); and
(b) requires the holder to prepare and submit a plan (a data management plan ) that deals with any or all of the following—
(i) the keeping of accounts, records and other documents in connection with those operations;
(ii) the collection and retention of cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations;
(iii) the giving to the Minister, or to a person specified in the data management plan, of reports, returns, other documents, cores, cuttings and samples in connection with those operations; and
(c) empowers the Minister to make decisions about the approval of—
(i) a data management plan; and
(ii) variations of a data management plan; and
(d) requires the holder to comply with an approved data management plan submitted by the holder.
(3) A scheme referred to in subsection (2) may provide that the holder must not commence the relevant operations unless—
(a) an approved data management plan is in force; or
(b) the Minister gives consent to the commencement of those operations.
(4) Subsections (2) and (3) do not limit subsection (1).
(5) A requirement under section 720 is in addition to a requirement under regulations made for the purposes of this section.
Division 3 —Information‑gathering powers