18Reserved block

18 Reserved block

(1) Subject to subsection (3), the Joint Authority for a Commonwealth‑State offshore area may declare that a block in the offshore area is a reserved block.

Note 1: A reserved block may be put up for tender by a Joint Authority publishing in the Gazette a tender block licence notice (see sections 74 and 218).

Note 2: Paragraph 23(b) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 allows a single declaration under this subsection to be made in respect of 2 or more blocks.

(2) Subject to subsection (3), the responsible Commonwealth Minister may declare that a block in an external territory offshore area is a reserved block.

Note 1: A reserved block may be put up for tender by the responsible Commonwealth Minister publishing in the Gazette a tender block licence notice (see sections 74 and 218).

Note 2: Paragraph 23(b) of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 allows a single declaration under this subsection to be made in respect of 2 or more blocks.

(3) A declaration under subsection (1) or (2) must not be made in relation to a block if: (a) a licence over that block is in force; or (b) an application for a licence over that block has been made and has not been determined. (4) A declaration under subsection (1) or (2) must be made by notice published in the Gazette.