{"id":"C1969A00058","name":"Coral Sea Islands Act 1969","slug":"coral-sea-islands-act-1969","collection":"act","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"58 of 1969","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":2144,"registerId":"C2022C00171","compilationNumber":"8","startDate":"2022-06-02","status":"InForce","reasons":[{"affect":"Amend","markdown":"sch 1 (item 22) of the [Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Consequential Amendments) Act 2021](/C2021A00121)","dateChanged":null,"amendedByTitle":null,"affectedByTitle":{"name":"Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Consequential Amendments) Act 2021","year":2021,"number":121,"titleId":"C2021A00121","provisions":"sch 1 (item 22)","seriesType":"Act","optionalSeriesNumber":null}}],"registeredAt":"2022-06-03T10:35:36.480Z"},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Coral Sea Islands Act 1969","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\nmeta-generator: Aspose.Words for .NET 22.10.0\ntitle: Coral Sea Islands Act 1969\n---\n\n?xml version=\"1.0\" encoding=\"utf-8\" standalone=\"no\"?>\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nCoral Sea Islands Act 1969\n\nNo. 58, 1969\n\nCompilation No. 8\n\nCompilation date: 2 June 2022\n\nIncludes amendments up to: Act No. 121, 2021\n\nRegistered: 3 June 2022\n\nAbout this compilation\n\nThis compilation\n\nThis is a compilation of the Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 2 June 2022 (the compilation date).\n\nThe notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.\n\nUncommenced amendments\n\nThe effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nApplication, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments\n\nIf the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nFor more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.\n\nModifications\n\nIf the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.\n\nSelf‑repealing provisions\n\nIf a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1 Short title\n\n2 Interpretation\n\n3 Coral Sea Islands Territory\n\n4 Continuance of laws\n\n5 Ordinances\n\n6 Application of Commonwealth Acts\n\n7 Tabling of Ordinances\n\n7A Ordinance not to be re‑made while required to be tabled\n\n7B Ordinance not to be re‑made while subject to disallowance\n\n7C Disallowed Ordinance not to be re‑made unless resolution rescinded or House approves\n\n7D Regulations, rules and by‑laws\n\n8 Courts having jurisdiction in the Territory\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAn Act to provide for the Government of certain Islands acquired by the Commonwealth\n\nPreamble\n\n  All the islands in the following areas are territories acquired by the Commonwealth:\n\n (a) the area the boundary of which commences at the point of the intersection of the line following the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef by the parallel of Latitude 12° 00´ South and runs:\n\n (i) then south‑easterly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 16° 00´ South, Longitude 156° 06´ East; and\n\n (ii) then south along the meridian of Longitude 156° 06´ East to its intersection by the parallel of Latitude 24° 00´ South; and\n\n (iii) then west along that parallel to its intersection by the meridian of Longitude 154° 00´ East; and\n\n (iv) then north along that meridian to its intersection by the parallel of Latitude 22° 00´ South; and\n\n (v) then west along that parallel to its intersection by the line following the outer edge of the Great Barrier Reef; and\n\n (vi) then generally north‑westerly along that line to the point of commencement; and\n\n (b) the area the boundary of which commences at the point of Latitude 29° 21´ South, Longitude 158° 59´ East and runs:\n\n (i) then east along the parallel of Latitude 29° 21´ South to its intersection by the meridian of Longitude 159° 14´ East; and\n\n (ii) then south‑westerly along the geodesic to the point of Latitude 30° 3´ South, Longitude 159° 10´ East; and\n\n (iii) then west along the parallel of Latitude 30° 3´ South to its intersection by the meridian of Longitude 158° 55´ East; and\n\n (iv) then north‑easterly along the geodesic to the point of commencement.\n\nIt is desirable to make provision for the government of those islands as one Territory.\n\n  BE IT THEREFORE enacted by the Queen’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:\n\n1  Short title\n\n  This Act may be cited as the Coral Sea Islands Act 1969.\n\n2  Interpretation\n\n (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\nAct does not include an enactment.\n\nenactment has the same meaning as in the Australian Capital Territory (Self‑Government) Act 1988.\n\nOrdinance means an Ordinance made under this Act.\n\nprescribed State or Territory has the meaning given by the Norfolk Island Act 1979.\n\nthe Territory means the Coral Sea Islands Territory.\n\n (2) Where, for the purposes of this Act, it is necessary to determine the position on the surface of the Earth of a point, line or area, that position must be determined by reference to the Geocentric Datum of Australia (GDA) as defined in the Gazette No. GN 35, 6 September 1995.\n\n3  Coral Sea Islands Territory\n\n  The Coral Sea Islands, that is to say, the islands described in the Preamble, are declared to be a Territory by the name of Coral Sea Islands Territory.\n\n4  Continuance of laws\n\n  Subject to this Act, the laws in force in the Coral Sea Islands at the commencement of this Act continue in force, but may be altered or repealed by Ordinance made in pursuance of this Act.\n\n5  Ordinances\n\n (1) The Governor‑General may make Ordinances for the peace, order and good government of the Territory.\n\n (2) Notice of the making of an Ordinance shall be published in the Gazette, and an Ordinance shall, unless the contrary intention appears in the Ordinance, come into operation on the date of publication of the notice.\n\n6  Application of Commonwealth Acts\n\n (1) An Act or a provision of an Act (whether passed before or after the commencement of this Act) is not in force as such in the Territory unless it is expressed to extend to the Territory.\n\n (2) An Ordinance shall not be made so as to affect the application of its own force in, or in relation to, the Territory of an Act or a provision of an Act.\n\n7  Tabling of Ordinances\n\n (1) An Ordinance shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the making of the Ordinance, and, if it is not so laid before each House of the Parliament, ceases to have effect.\n\n (2) If either House of the Parliament, in pursuance of a motion of which notice has been given within 15 sitting days after an Ordinance has been laid before that House, passes a resolution disallowing the Ordinance or a part of the Ordinance, the Ordinance or part so disallowed thereupon ceases to have effect.\n\n (3) If, at the expiration of 15 sitting days after notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance or part of an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament, being notice given within 15 sitting days after the Ordinance has been laid before that House:\n\n (a) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or\n\n (b) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;\n\nthe Ordinance or part, as the case may be, specified in the motion shall thereupon be deemed to have been disallowed.\n\n (4) If, before the expiration of 15 sitting days after notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance or part of an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament:\n\n (a) the House of Representatives is dissolved or expires, or the Parliament is prorogued; and\n\n (b) at the time of the dissolution, expiry or prorogation, as the case may be:\n\n (i) the notice has not been withdrawn and the motion has not been called on; or\n\n (ii) the motion has been called on, moved and seconded and has not been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of;\n\nthe Ordinance shall, for the purposes of subsections (2) and (3), be deemed to have been laid before that first‑mentioned House on the first sitting day of that first‑mentioned House after the dissolution, expiry or prorogation, as the case may be.\n\n (5) Where an Ordinance is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under this section or ceases to have effect by virtue of the operation of subsection (1), the disallowance of the Ordinance or the operation of subsection (1) in relation to the Ordinance, as the case may be, has the same effect as a repeal of the Ordinance.\n\n (5A) Where:\n\n (a) an Ordinance (in this subsection referred to as the relevant Ordinance) is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under this section or ceases to have effect by virtue of the operation of subsection (1); and\n\n (b) the relevant Ordinance repealed, in whole or in part, another Ordinance or any other law that was in force immediately before the relevant Ordinance came into operation;\n\nthe disallowance of the relevant Ordinance or the operation of subsection (1) in relation to the relevant Ordinance, as the case may be, has the effect of reviving that other Ordinance or law, as the case may be, from and including the date of the disallowance or the date on which the relevant Ordinance ceased to have effect by virtue of that operation of subsection (1), as the case may be, as if the relevant Ordinance had not been made.\n\n (5B) A reference in subsection (5) or (5A) to an Ordinance shall be read as including a reference to a part of an Ordinance, and a reference in subsection (5A) to a law has a corresponding meaning.\n\n7A  Ordinance not to be re‑made while required to be tabled\n\n (1) Where an Ordinance (in this section called the original Ordinance) has been made, no Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the original Ordinance shall be made during the period defined by subsection (2) unless both Houses of the Parliament by resolution approve the making of an Ordinance containing a provision the same in substance as that provision of the original Ordinance.\n\n (2) The period referred to in subsection (1) is the period starting on the day on which the original Ordinance was made and ending at the end of 7 days after:\n\n (a) if the original Ordinance has been laid, in accordance with subsection 7(1), before both Houses of the Parliament on the same day—that day;\n\n (b) if the original Ordinance has been so laid before both Houses on different days—the later of those days; or\n\n (c) if the original Ordinance has not been so laid before both Houses—the last day on which subsection 7(1) could have been complied with.\n\n (3) If a provision of an Ordinance is made in contravention of this section, the provision has not effect.\n\n7B  Ordinance not to be re‑made while subject to disallowance\n\n (1) Where notice of a motion to disallow an Ordinance has been given in a House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days after the Ordinance has been laid before that House, no Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the first‑mentioned Ordinance shall be made unless:\n\n (a) the notice has been withdrawn;\n\n (b) the Ordinance is deemed to have been disallowed under subsection 7(3);\n\n (c) the motion has been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of; or\n\n (d) subsection 7(4) has applied in relation to the Ordinance.\n\n (2) Where:\n\n (a) because of subsection 7(4), an Ordinance is deemed to have been laid before a House of the Parliament on a particular day; and\n\n (b) notice of a motion to disallow the Ordinance has been given in that House within 15 sitting days after that day;\n\nno Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision of the first‑mentioned Ordinance shall be made unless:\n\n (c) the notice has been withdrawn;\n\n (d) the Ordinance is deemed to have been disallowed under subsection 7(3);\n\n (e) the motion has been withdrawn or otherwise disposed of; or\n\n (f) subsection 7(4) has applied again in relation to the Ordinance.\n\n (3) If a provision of an Ordinance is made in contravention of this section, the provision has no effect.\n\n (4) This section does not limit the operation of section 7A or 7C.\n\n (5) In this section:\n\nOrdinance includes a part of an Ordinance.\n\n7C  Disallowed Ordinance not to be re‑made unless resolution rescinded or House approves\n\n  If an Ordinance or a part of an Ordinance is disallowed, or is deemed to have been disallowed, under section 7, and an Ordinance containing a provision being the same in substance as a provision so disallowed, or deemed to have been disallowed, is made within 6 months after the date of the disallowance, that provision has no effect, unless:\n\n (a) in the case of an Ordinance, or a part of an Ordinance, disallowed by resolution—the resolution has been rescinded by the House of the Parliament by which it was passed; or\n\n (b) in the case of an Ordinance, or a part of an Ordinance, deemed to have been disallowed—the House of the Parliament in which notice of the motion to disallow the Ordinance or part was given has approved, by resolution, the making of a provision the same in substance as the provision deemed to have been disallowed.\n\n7D  Regulations, rules and by‑laws\n\n (1) All regulations made under an Ordinance shall be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the day on which the regulations are made and, if they are not so laid before each House of the Parliament, have no effect.\n\n (2) Subsections 7(2) to (5B), inclusive, and sections 7A, 7B and 7C apply in relation to regulations laid before a House of the Parliament as if, in those provisions, references to an Ordinance were references to regulations and references to a provision of an Ordinance were references to a regulation.\n\n (3) In this section, regulations includes rules and by‑laws.\n\n8  Courts having jurisdiction in the Territory\n\n (1A) Subject to subsection (3), the courts of the prescribed State or Territory also have jurisdiction in and in relation to the Territory.\n\n (1B) In the exercise of its jurisdiction under this section, a court of the prescribed State or Territory may sit in the Coral Sea Islands Territory, in Norfolk Island or in the prescribed State or Territory.\n\n (1) Subject to subsection (3) of this section and Part VII of the Norfolk Island Act 1979, the courts of Norfolk Island have jurisdiction in and in relation to the Territory.\n\n (2) In the exercise of its jurisdiction under this section a court of Norfolk Island may sit in the Territory, in Norfolk Island or in Australia.\n\n (3) This section does not confer jurisdiction on any court in relation to matters arising under or by virtue of the provisions of:\n\n (a) the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021; or\n\n (b) the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006.\n\nEndnotes\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nThe endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.\n\nThe following endnotes are included in every compilation:\n\nEndnote 1—About the endnotes\n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\nAbbreviation key—Endnote 2\n\nThe abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.\n\nLegislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4\n\nAmending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.\n\nThe legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.\n\nThe amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.\n\nEditorial changes\n\nThe Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.\n\nIf the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.\n\nMisdescribed amendments\n\nA misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe how an amendment is to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, then the misdescribed amendment can be incorporated through an editorial change made under section 15V of the Legislation Act 2003.\n\nIf a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the amendment is not incorporated and “(md not incorp)” is added to the amendment history.\n\n \n\nEndnote 2—Abbreviation key\n\n| ad = added or inserted | o = order(s) |\n| --- | --- |\n| am = amended | Ord = Ordinance |\n| amdt = amendment | orig = original |\n| c = clause(s) | par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s) |\n| C[x] = Compilation No. x | /sub‑subparagraph(s) |\n| Ch = Chapter(s) | pres = present |\n| def = definition(s) | prev = previous |\n| Dict = Dictionary | (prev…) = previously |\n| disallowed = disallowed by Parliament | Pt = Part(s) |\n| Div = Division(s) | r = regulation(s)/rule(s) |\n| ed = editorial change | reloc = relocated |\n| exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have | renum = renumbered |\n| effect | rep = repealed |\n| F = Federal Register of Legislation | rs = repealed and substituted |\n| gaz = gazette | s = section(s)/subsection(s) |\n| LA = Legislation Act 2003 | Sch = Schedule(s) |\n| LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 | Sdiv = Subdivision(s) |\n| (md) = misdescribed amendment can be given | SLI = Select Legislative Instrument |\n| effect | SR = Statutory Rules |\n| (md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment | Sub‑Ch = Sub‑Chapter(s) |\n| cannot be given effect | SubPt = Subpart(s) |\n| mod = modified/modification | underlining = whole or part not |\n| No. = Number(s) | commenced or to be commenced |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 3—Legislation history\n\n \n\n| Act | Number and year | Assent date | Commencement  date | Application, saving and transitional provisions |\n| --- | --- | --- | --- | --- |\n| Coral Sea Islands Act 1969 | 58, 1969 | 2 Sept 1969 | 30 Sept 1969 |  |\n| Statute Law Revision Act 1973 | 216, 1973 | 19 Dec 1973 | 31 Dec 1973 | ss. 9(1) and 10 |\n| Petroleum (Submerged Lands—Miscellaneous Amendments) Act 1981 | 79, 1981 | 18 June 1981 | s 16: 14 Feb 1983 (s 2(2)) | — |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 1) 1982 | 26, 1982 | 7 May 1982 | s 147: 4 June 1982 (s 2(12)) | — |\n| as amended by |  |  |  |  |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Amendments) Act (No. 2) 1982 | 80, 1982 | 22 Sept 1982 | s 263: 4 June 1982 (s 2(11)) | — |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1983 | 39, 1983 | 20 June 1983 | Sch 1: 18 July 1983 (s 2(1)) | — |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1984 | 72, 1984 | 25 June 1984 | s 5(1) and Sch: 23 July 1984 (s 2(1)) | s 5(1) |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1985 | 65, 1985 | 5 June 1985 | Sch 1: 3 July 1985 (s 2(1)) | — |\n| Statute Law (Miscellaneous Provisions) Act (No. 2) 1986 | 168, 1986 | 18 Dec 1986 | Sch 1: 18 Dec 1986 (s 2(1)) | — |\n| Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988 | 99, 1988 | 2 Dec 1988 | 2 Dec 1988 | — |\n| A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 | 109, 1988 | 6 Dec 1988 | Sch 5 (s 32): 11 May 1989 (s 2(3) and gaz 1989, No S164) | — |\n| Environment, Sport and Territories Legislation Amendment Act 1997 | 118, 1997 | 7 July 1997 | Sch 1 (items 20, 21): 7 July 1997 (s 2(1)) | — |\n| Offshore Petroleum (Repeals and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 | 17, 2006 | 29 Mar 2006 | Sch 2 (item 12): 1 July 2008 (s 2(1) item 2) | — |\n| Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Act 2008 | 117, 2008 | 21 Nov 2008 | Sch 3 (item 4): 22 Nov 2008 (s 2(1) item 4) | — |\n| Territories Legislation Amendment Act 2020 | 154, 2020 | 17 Dec 2020 | Sch 1 (items 82–85, 93–96, 99): 18 Dec 2020 (s 2(1) item 2) | Sch 1 (items 93–96, 99) |\n| Offshore Electricity Infrastructure (Consequential Amendments) Act 2021 | 121, 2021 | 2 Dec 2021 | Sch 1 (item 22): 2 June 2022 (s 2(1) item 2) | — |\n\n\n \n\nEndnote 4—Amendment history\n\n \n\n| Provision affected | How affected |\n| --- | --- |\n| Preamble................. | am No 216, 1973 |\n|  | rs No 72, 1984; No 118, 1997 |\n| s 2..................... | am No 72, 1984; No 109, 1988; No 118, 1997; No 154, 2020 |\n| s 3..................... | am No 216, 1973; No 72, 1984; No 65, 1985 |\n| s 7..................... | am No 26, 1982 (as am by No 80, 1982); No 39, 1983; No 65, 1985; No 168, 1986; No 99, 1988 |\n| s 7A.................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 7B.................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 7C.................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 7D.................... | ad No 99, 1988 |\n| s 8..................... | am No 79, 1981; No 17, 2006; No 117, 2008; No 154, 2020; No 121, 2021 |\n\n\n \n\n \n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The Act as compiled keeps its core, original purpose (to provide for government of the listed islands as a Territory) but its operational scope has been modified by later amendments reflected in the text. Notable scope changes in the compiled text include: explicit procedural and timing regimes for tabling, disallowance and re‑making of Ordinances and regulations (ss7, 7A–7D) that were added after the original enactment; specification of the Geocentric Datum of Australia for positional determinations (s2(2)); and explicit jurisdictional carve‑outs for certain offshore statutes so that courts do not have jurisdiction in relation to those Acts (s8(3) listing the Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021 and the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006). These amendments alter how the original governance purpose is operationalised (law‑making mechanics, judicial reach and technical boundary definition) though they do not repudiate the Act’s fundamental territorial declaration (s3) or its mechanism for creating Ordinances (s5)."},"complexity_factors":["Precise geodetic boundary definitions in the Preamble requiring use of the Geocentric Datum of Australia for positional determinations (s3; s2(2)).","Executive ordinance‑making power combined with retrospective parliamentary oversight and disallowance procedures creates interlocking timing rules (s5; s7; s7A–7C).","Revival mechanism where disallowance revives prior laws (s7(5), s7(5A)) adds conditional legal continuity complexity.","Requirement that Commonwealth Acts be expressly extended to apply to the Territory, creating potential for legislative gaps and cross‑statute coordination needs (s6(1)).","Shared and conditional judicial arrangements with prescribed State/Territory courts and Norfolk Island courts, plus specific statutory carve‑outs for offshore legislation (s8(1A), s8(1), s8(3)).","Cross‑references to other legislation (e.g. Norfolk Island Act and named offshore Acts) that affect operation and interpretation (s2(1) definition \"prescribed State or Territory\"; s8(3))."],"plain_english_summary":"# What this law does\n\nThis Act creates the Coral Sea Islands Territory and sets out how it is to be governed as a Commonwealth territory. Mechanically, it does four main things:\n\n- Declares the Territory and fixes its geographic boundaries by coordinates in the Preamble (the islands described in the Preamble are \"the Territory\").\n- Keeps any local laws already in force on the islands, but allows the Governor‑General to make new local laws (called Ordinances) for the \"peace, order and good government\" of the Territory (s3, s4, s5).\n- Sets procedural controls on those Ordinances and on subsidiary instruments (regulations, rules, by‑laws): they must be published in the Gazette, tabled in each House of Parliament within 15 sitting days, and can be disallowed by resolution of either House; there are detailed timing rules about when an Ordinance ceases to have effect and when it may be re‑made (s5, s7, s7A–7D).\n- Provides for which courts can hear matters arising in the Territory: courts of a prescribed State or Territory and courts of Norfolk Island have jurisdiction (with exceptions for certain offshore laws) and may sit in the Territory or elsewhere as described (s8, including s8(3)).\n\n# Who it affects and who decides\n\n- Decision‑makers: the Governor‑General (via power to make Ordinances) and the Parliament (via tabling, disallowance and approval powers) are the primary decision actors under the Act (s5, s7, s7A–7C). Courts of a prescribed State or Territory and courts of Norfolk Island exercise jurisdiction in relation to the Territory (s8(1A), s8(1)).\n\n- People and entities affected: inhabitants and visitors of the islands are subject to any Ordinances in force; persons and organisations doing business or bringing legal proceedings connected to the Territory will be affected by which Commonwealth Acts are expressed to extend to the Territory (s6) and by the courts given jurisdiction (s8).\n\n# Why it matters (official rationale and mechanical tests)\n\nThe Act’s stated purpose in the Preamble is to provide for the government of the specified islands \"as one Territory.\" That is the claimed effect. Mechanically, it achieves that by (a) declaring the territory (s3), (b) preserving pre‑existing local laws but enabling Ordinances (s4, s5), (c) creating a parliamentary oversight regime over those Ordinances and subsidiary instruments (s7, s7D) and (d) allocating judicial jurisdiction (s8).\n\nTesting that claimed purpose against likely costs, incentives and trade‑offs using what the text provides:\n\n- Incentives and discretion: the Governor‑General has broad ordinance‑making power (s5). That centralises law‑making discretion in the Commonwealth executive for these islands; parliamentary control is exercised after the fact by tabling and disallowance (s7). The Act therefore shifts initial law‑making initiative to the executive while preserving parliamentary retrospective oversight (s5, s7).\n\n- Compliance burden and administrative timing: Ordinances and regulations must be published and then tabled within 15 sitting days (s5(2), s7(1), s7D(1)). If tabling does not occur within that window, the instrument \"ceases to have effect\" (s7(1), s7D(1)). The Act adds linked timing constraints on re‑making substantially similar provisions while tabling or disallowance processes are underway (s7A, s7B) and prevents re‑making disallowed provisions for six months unless Parliament rescinds or approves (s7C). These provisions create precise administrative steps and deadlines for both the executive and Parliament.\n\n- Legal certainty and continuity: pre‑existing laws continue unless altered by Ordinance (s4). If an Ordinance that repealed an earlier law is later disallowed or deemed ineffective, the earlier law is revived from the date of disallowance (s7(5A)). That provides a concrete revival mechanism but makes the law in force contingent on tabling/disallowance outcomes (s7(5), s7(5A)).\n\n- Interaction with Commonwealth legislation: a Commonwealth Act (or provision) is not in force in the Territory \"as such\" unless it is expressly stated to extend to the Territory (s6(1)). The Act therefore limits automatic application of federal statutes to the Territory and requires express extension for each relevant Commonwealth law. This creates a legal boundary that requires legislative or drafting attention when federal law‑makers want a Commonwealth Act to operate there.\n\n- Judicial forum effects: the Act assigns jurisdiction to courts of a prescribed State or Territory and to Norfolk Island courts (s8(1A), s8(1)). The Act also excludes the Territory from the jurisdiction of courts in relation to specified offshore laws (Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021; Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006) (s8(3)). That means certain offshore regulatory matters are specifically carved out from the local court regime.\n\n# Practical implementation risks and opportunity costs (as shown in the text)\n\n- Administrative timing risk: the 15‑sitting‑day tabling rule (s7, s7D) means an Ordinance or regulation may lapse if procedural publication and tabling are mishandled.\n\n- Legislative patchwork: because Commonwealth Acts do not automatically apply (s6(1)), gaps in the legal framework could arise unless each relevant Commonwealth law is expressly extended to the Territory.\n\n- Forum uncertainty: assigning jurisdiction to courts of prescribed States/Territories or Norfolk Island (s8) and excluding certain offshore matters (s8(3)) can change where disputes are litigated; parties and regulators must check which courts hear which matters.\n\n# Where the Act is concrete and where it is silent\n\n- Concrete: boundary coordinates (Preamble and s3), ordinance‑making power (s5), detailed tabling and disallowance mechanics (s7, s7A–7D), and court jurisdiction rules (s8).\n\n- Silent: the Act does not set out funding or administrative budgets, nor does it specify which Commonwealth Acts should be extended to the Territory — those are left to other legislation or executive/Parliamentary action (s6). The Act also does not itself create an administrative body or departmental structure; it creates the legal framework for governance.\n\n(Section references in this summary are to the provisions of the Act: s3, s4, s5, s6, s7, s7A–7D, s8 and the Preamble.)"},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"The original 1969 Act was a straightforward territorial establishment and basic governance statute. Over time, it has accumulated significant parliamentary oversight machinery (sections 7A-7D on disallowance and re-making restrictions) transplanted from the Statutory Instruments (Tabling and Disallowance) Legislation Amendment Act 1988. More substantially, the 2020 and 2021 amendments added complex jurisdictional carve-outs for offshore petroleum and electricity infrastructure, reflecting the territory's strategic importance for offshore energy development — well beyond the original 'government of certain islands' purpose stated in the long title."},"complexity_factors":["Multiple cross-references to other Acts (Norfolk Island Act 1979, Australian Capital Territory (Self-Government) Act 1988, Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006, Offshore Electricity Infrastructure Act 2021)","Detailed disallowance mechanics in sections 7-7C with multiple subsections, deeming provisions, and time limits (15 sitting days, 6-month bars on re-making)","Nested exceptions in section 8(3) excluding jurisdiction for specific offshore resource legislation","Geodetic datum reference (Geocentric Datum of Australia) requiring technical geographic knowledge","Precise coordinate-based boundary descriptions in the Preamble using geodesics and meridians"],"plain_english_summary":"This law creates and governs the **Coral Sea Islands Territory** — a remote Australian territory made up of scattered islands and reefs in the Coral Sea, northeast of Queensland.\n\n**What it does:**\n- **Establishes the territory**: Declares a specific group of islands (defined by precise map coordinates in the Preamble) as a single Australian territory called the Coral Sea Islands Territory.\n- **Provides for local law-making**: Allows the Governor-General to make **Ordinances** (local laws) for the \"peace, order and good government\" of the territory.\n- **Parliamentary oversight**: Requires all Ordinances to be tabled in Parliament and gives Parliament power to **disallow** (reject) them. Includes detailed rules preventing the government from simply re-making an Ordinance that Parliament has rejected.\n- **Continues existing laws**: Laws that were already in force on the islands when this Act started continue to apply, unless changed by Ordinance.\n- **Applies Commonwealth law selectively**: Federal laws only apply to the territory if they specifically say so — they don't automatically cover it.\n- **Courts**: Gives courts from **Norfolk Island** and a \"prescribed State or Territory\" (currently Queensland) jurisdiction to hear cases from the Coral Sea Islands. However, this doesn't cover matters under offshore petroleum or offshore electricity laws.\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- Very few people directly — the territory is uninhabited except for occasional scientific or weather station staff. Mainly affects Commonwealth officials administering the territory, and any visitors or researchers there.\n\n**Why it matters:**\n- Establishes Australian sovereignty over these remote islands and their surrounding waters (important for maritime boundaries, fishing, and offshore resources).\n- Creates the legal framework for managing the territory without needing full Commonwealth legislation for every small matter."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969","history":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969/history","analysis":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/coral-sea-islands-act-1969/documents"}}