(1) Subject to
subsection (5), the Minister may cancel a mining licence if the licence holder
—
(a)
breaches a licence condition; or
(b)
contravenes a provision of this Act or the regulations; or
(c)
breaches a condition attached to an approval under section 365(2).
(2) If the Minister
proposes to cancel a licence under subsection (1), the Minister must give the
licence holder a written notice that informs the holder of the proposed
cancellation.
(3) The notice must
—
(a)
specify the reason for the proposed cancellation; and
(b)
invite the holder to make submissions in relation to the proposed
cancellation; and
(c)
specify the day by which submissions may be made to the Minister; and
(d)
specify an address where submissions are to be lodged.
(4) The day specified
under subsection (3)(c) must be not less than 60 days after the day on which
the notice is given.
(5) The Minister may
cancel the licence only if —
(a) the
holder has been given a notice under subsection (2); and
(b) the
Minister has considered —
(i)
any submission made by the holder in accordance with
subsection (3); and
(ii)
any steps taken by the holder to remedy the breach or
contravention that led to the proposal to cancel the licence and to prevent
any similar breach or contravention from happening again;
and
(c) the
Minister is satisfied that no special circumstances exist that justify the
licence not being cancelled.