(1) Subject to
subsection (3), the applicant must obtain the agreement of interested licence
holders to the application.
(2) The agreement must
be in writing.
(3) The agreement of
an interested licence holder is not necessary if —
(a) the
application is for a scientific investigation; and
(b)
Australia has obligations under international conventions to allow the
investigation.
(4) For the purposes
of this section, a licence holder is interested if —
(a) the
holder holds an exploration, retention or mining licence; and
(b) the
block concerned is inside the licence area.