3Interpretation

3 Interpretation

(1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:

act includes:

(a) a failure to do an act; and

(b) any circumstance or state of affairs.

Area A of the Zone of Cooperation has the same meaning as in the Petroleum (Timor Gap Zone of Cooperation) Act 1990.

Australian fishing zone has the same meaning as in the Fisheries Management Act 1991.

Australian ship means:

(a) a ship registered in Australia or an external Territory under an Act or Imperial Act relating to the registration of ships that is applicable throughout the whole of Australia and the external Territories, not being an Act or Imperial Act relating to the registration of ships for a particular purpose or purposes only; or

(b) any other ship (not being a ship registered in a foreign country) the operations of which are based in a place or places in Australia or an external Territory or which is wholly owned by a person who, or persons each of whom, is a natural person resident in, or a company incorporated in, Australia or an external Territory.

authority means:

(a) in relation to a State:

(i) the Governor, a Minister or a member of the Executive Council of the State;

(ii) a person who holds office as a member of a court of the State;

(iii) a body created by or under the law of the State; and

(iv) an officer or employee of the State or of a body referred to in subparagraph (iii); and

(b) in relation to the Northern Territory:

(i) the Administrator or a Minister of the Territory;

(ii) a person who holds office as a member of a court of the Territory;

(iii) a body created by or under the law of the Territory; and

(iv) an officer or employee of the Territory or of a body referred to in subparagraph (iii).

committal, in relation to an offence, means the committal of a person for trial, or to be sentenced or otherwise dealt with, for the offence.

criminal laws means any laws, whether written or unwritten and whether substantive or procedural, and as in force from time to time, that make provision for or in relation to offences (whether punishable on conviction on indictment or on summary conviction) or for or in relation to the investigation of offences or punishment of offenders, and includes any laws providing for the interpretation of those laws.