COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA
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Commonwealth legislation
This Act has been repealed and is no longer in force. It is retained for historical reference.
A temporary ministerial permit under the Navigation Act 1912 allowed large foreign cruise ships to carry passengers between Australian ports (1 Jan 2003–31 Dec 2008) without an Australian coastal trading licence. It applied to big, fast, passenger-focused vessels meeting size/speed/capacity thresholds, but expressly excluded Victoria–Tasmania sailings to protect the Bass Strait trade. The measure aimed to alleviate perceived harm to tourist traffic by enabling international cruise lines to add domestic coastal legs.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Navigation Act 1912 - Notice under subsection 286(6) (11/12/2002).
NOTICE UNDER SUBSECTION 286(6)
I, JOHN DUNCAN ANDERSON, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, being satisfied that the tourist traffic between all ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories except between Victoria and Tasmania is being injured or retarded and that it is desirable that unlicensed ships be permitted to engage in that trade, HEREBY PERMIT unlicensed ships as specified below to engage in the carriage of passengers between any ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories except between Victoria and Tasmania for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008.
Specifications of vessels to which the notice applies and conditions on which notice is given
This notice applies to vessels in excess of 5000 gross registered tonnes which are:
(a) capable of a speed of at leat 15 knots;
(b) capable of carrying at least 100 passengers; and
(c) utilised wholly or primarily for the carriage of passengers.
DATED 11 December 2002
……………SIGNED …………………
John Anderson
Minister for Transport and Regional Services
Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation (legislation.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.
NOTICE UNDER SUBSECTION 286(6)
I, JOHN DUNCAN ANDERSON, Minister for Transport and Regional Services, being satisfied that the tourist traffic between all ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories except between Victoria and Tasmania is being injured or retarded and that it is desirable that unlicensed ships be permitted to engage in that trade, HEREBY PERMIT unlicensed ships as specified below to engage in the carriage of passengers between any ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories except between Victoria and Tasmania for the period 1 January 2003 to 31 December 2008.
Specifications of vessels to which the notice applies and conditions on which notice is given
This notice applies to vessels in excess of 5000 gross registered tonnes which are:
(a) capable of a speed of at leat 15 knots;
(b) capable of carrying at least 100 passengers; and
(c) utilised wholly or primarily for the carriage of passengers.
DATED 11 December 2002
……………SIGNED …………………
John Anderson
Minister for Transport and Regional Services