5Application of Act

### 5 Application of Act > > (1)  Subject to this section, this Act applies to all land and minerals in the State. > > > (2)  [*\[Section 5 Subsection (2) substituted by No. 38 of 2006, s. 4, Applied:18 Dec 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-12-18/act-2006-038#GS4@Hpa@EN) Subject to [subsection (3)](#GS5@Gs3@EN) , this Act does not apply to the surface, or within 15 metres below the surface, of any land which is set apart or dedicated for any public purpose, other than as – > > > > > > (a) a public reserve within the meaning of the [Crown Lands Act 1976](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1976-028) ; or > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (2) amended by No. 50 of 2013, Sched. 1, Applied:11 Dec 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-12-11/act-2013-050#JS1@Ja19@GC2@EN) permanent timber production zone land within the meaning of the [Forest Management Act 2013](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2013-049) . > > > (3)  The Minister, by order and with the agreement of any other appropriate Minister, may declare that this Act or any specified provision of this Act applies to – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (3) amended by No. 38 of 2006, s. 4, Applied:18 Dec 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-12-18/act-2006-038#GS4@Hpb@EN) .  .  .  .  .  .  .  .   > > > > > > > (b) any specified land set apart or dedicated for any public purpose. > > > (4)  The Minister, by order, may declare that any specified area of land or any specified mineral is exempt from this Act. > > > (4A)  [*\[Section 5 Subsection (4A) inserted by No. 44 of 2017, s. 5, Applied:21 Nov 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-11-21/act-2017-044#GS5@Hpa@EN) A person must not explore, undertake mining on, or remove minerals from, any area of land in contravention of an order under [subsection (4)](#GS5@Gs4@EN) . > > > (5)  [*\[Section 5 Subsection (5) amended by No. 24 of 2013, s. 6, Applied:28 Jun 2013\]*](/view/html/inforce/2013-06-28/act-2013-024#GS6@EN) The holder of an exploration licence or a special exploration licence must not exercise any right conferred by the licence within an area of land exempted under [subsection (4)](#GS5@Gs4@EN) without the Minister's approval. > > > > Penalty:  Fine not exceeding 10 penalty units. > > > (6)  This Act does not apply to the mining of – > > > > > > (a) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (6) amended by No. 44 of 2017, s. 5, Applied:21 Nov 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-11-21/act-2017-044#GS5@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (6) amended by No. 44 of 2017, s. 5, Applied:21 Nov 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-11-21/act-2017-044#GS5@Hpb@EN) Category 3 minerals carried out by the Crown in a State forest or on future potential production forest land within the meaning of the [Forestry (Rebuilding the Forest Industry) Act 2014](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2014-012) in accordance with the [Forest Practices Code](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1985-048#GS30@EN) under the [Forest Practices Act 1985](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1985-048) for the purpose of supplying materials for the construction of a forest road for providing access to a State forest; or > > > > > > > (b) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (6) amended by No. 44 of 2017, s. 5, Applied:21 Nov 2017\]*](/view/html/inforce/2017-11-21/act-2017-044#GS5@Hpd@EN) Category 3 minerals carried out by the Crown from a quarry in a State forest and sold at a rate of less than 100 tonnes per year. > > > (7)  [Sections 19](#GS19@EN) , [54](#GS54@EN) and [79](#GS79@EN) do not apply to the prescribed area of land in the municipal area of Dorset. > > > (8)  This Act does not extinguish or impair any native title rights and interests recognised under the *Native Title Act 1993* of the Commonwealth. > > > (9)  [*\[Section 5 Subsection (9) amended by No. 38 of 2006, s. 4, Applied:18 Dec 2006\]*](/view/html/inforce/2006-12-18/act-2006-038#GS4@Hpc@EN) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (9) amended by No. 64 of 2002, Sched. 1, Applied:31 Dec 2002\]*](/view/html/inforce/2002-12-31/act-2002-064#JS1@Ja14@GC1@EN) [*\[Section 5 Subsection (9) inserted by No. 74 of 2001, s. 5, Applied:30 Oct 2001\]*](/view/html/inforce/2001-10-30/act-2001-074#GS5@EN) This Act applies to reserved land within the meaning of the [Nature Conservation Act 2002](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-2002-063) and a public reserve within the meaning of the [Crown Lands Act 1976](/view/html/inforce/2026-04-12/act-1976-028) .