291AADeferral approvals for critical minerals

#### 291AA Deferral approvals for critical minerals 291AA Deferral approvals for critical minerals > > (1) A holder of a mining lease may apply for a deferral approval. > > > (2) An application for a deferral approval must be lodged with the Secretary. > > > (3) The Minister may, on application— > > > > > (a) grant a deferral approval, or > > > > > (b) refuse to grant a deferral approval. > > > (4) The Minister must not grant a deferral approval unless the Minister is satisfied the application meets the eligibility criteria prescribed by the regulations. > > > (5) In considering whether to grant a deferral approval, the Minister may have regard to guidelines issued and made publicly available by the Minister for the purposes of this section. > > > (6) A deferral approval must specify a deferred time on which royalty for a specified period is payable on one or more critical minerals. > > > (7) However, a deferral approval must not specify a deferred time that is greater than a deferred period of time prescribed by the regulations. > > > (8) A deferral approval cannot apply to a mineral other than a critical mineral. > > > (9) A deferral approval is subject to conditions imposed by the regulations. > > > (10) The Minister may revoke a deferral approval in the circumstances prescribed by the regulations. > > > (11) No compensation is payable for the revocation of a deferral approval. > > > (12) The regulations may further provide for matters in connection with the revocation of a deferral approval, including the payment of royalties payable under a deferral approval on revocation. > > > (13) In this section— > > > > critical mineral means a mineral prescribed by the regulations for this section. > > **s 291AA:** Ins 2025 No 37, Sch 3\[12\].