4Interpretation

#### 4 Interpretation In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: > approved means approved by the Designated Authority under section 41. > associate has the meaning given by subsection 26(1). > associated agent of a holder has the meaning given by subsection 26(3). > associated agent of an associated contractor has the meaning given by subsection 26(4). > associated contractor has the meaning given by subsection 26(2). > associated document file means an associated document file kept for the purposes of Part 3.1. > associated employee of an associated contractor has the meaning given by subsection 26(6). > associated employee of a holder has the meaning given by subsection 26(5). > associated revenue Act means: (a) the Exploration Licence Fees Act; or (b) the Mining Licence Fees Act; or (c) the Retention Licence Fees Act; or (d) the Works Licence Fees Act; or (e) the Registration Fees Act; or (f) the Royalty Act; or (g) the Exploration Licence User Charge Act; or (h) the Retention Licence User Charge Act. > block means a portion of an offshore area constituted according to section 17. > caveat on a licence means a caveat against: (a) the registration of dealings in relation to the licence; or (b) the registration of a person as a holder of the licence under section 340. > coastal waters of a State has the meaning given by section 16. > Commonwealth Minister means a Minister of State for the Commonwealth. > Commonwealth‑State offshore area has the meaning given by section 13. > compliance direction means a direction under section 387 or 392. > compliance inspection has the meaning given by section 377. > confidential information has the meaning given by section 27. > confidential sample has the meaning given by section 28. > consent area means the block or blocks specified in a special purpose consent. > Continental Shelf means the continental shelf of Australia within the meaning of the Seas and Submerged Lands Act 1973. > dealing in a licence means a transaction that creates, transfers, affects or otherwise deals with an interest in the licence and includes: (a) a transfer of the licence; and (b) a transfer of a share in a licence. > Designated Authority has the meaning given by section 29. > Note: If this Act confers a power or function on a Designated Authority generally, that power can be exercised, and that function can be performed, as provided by section 30. > discrete area has the meaning given by section 21. > exploration has the meaning given by section 23. > Exploration Licence Fees Act means the Offshore Minerals (Exploration Licence Fees) Act 1981. > Exploration Licence User Charge Act means the Offshore Minerals (Exploration Licence User Charge) Act 1994. > external territory means an external territory to which this Act extends under section 36. > external territory offshore area has the meaning given by section 14. > Fees Act means: (a) when used in relation to an exploration licence—the Offshore Minerals (Exploration Licence Fees) Act 1981; and (b) when used in relation to a retention licence—the Offshore Minerals (Retention Licence Fees) Act 1994; and (c) when used in relation to a mining licence—the Offshore Minerals (Mining Licence Fees) Act 1981; and (d) when used in relation to a works licence—the Offshore Minerals (Works Licence Fees) Act 1981; and includes regulations made under those Acts. > Gazette means: (a) in relation to a Commonwealth‑State offshore area—the Government Gazette of the State; or (b) in relation to an external territory offshore area—the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette. > holder of a licence has the meaning given by subsection 25(1). > hydrocarbon means a hydrocarbon whether in a gaseous, liquid or solid state. > inspector means an inspector appointed under section 421. > interest, in relation to a licence, includes: (a) an equitable interest in the licence; and (b) a security interest in the licence. > Joint Authority has the meaning given by section 32. > Note: If this Act confers a power or function on a Joint Authority generally, that power can be exercised, and that function can be performed, as provided by section 33. > licence means: (a) an exploration licence; or (b) a retention licence; or (c) a mining licence; or (d) a works licence. > licence area means the block or blocks covered by a licence. > mineral has the meaning given by section 22. > Mining Licence Fees Act means the Offshore Minerals (Mining Licence Fees) Act 1981. > native title and native title rights and interests have the same meaning as in the Native Title Act 1993. > offshore area means a Commonwealth‑State offshore area or an external territory offshore area. > offshore exploration or mining activity means: (a) the exploration for minerals in an offshore area; or (b) the recovery of minerals from an offshore area; or (c) activities carried out in an offshore area under a works licence. > offshore mining register means a register kept for the purposes of Part 3.1. > petroleum means: (a) a hydrocarbon or a mixture of hydrocarbons; or (b) a mixture of one or more hydrocarbons and one or more of the following: (i) hydrogen sulphide; (ii) nitrogen; (iii) helium; (iv) carbon dioxide. > primary payment period for the provisional grant or provisional renewal of a licence means the period of 30 days after the day on which the applicant is given a written notice: (a) in the case of the grant of an exploration licence—under section 66 or 83; and (b) in the case of the renewal of an exploration licence—under section 110; and (c) in the case of the grant of a retention licence—under section 147; and (d) in the case of the renewal of a retention licence—under section 169; and (e) in the case of the grant of a mining licence—under section 210 or 227; and (f) in the case of the renewal of a mining licence—under section 246; and (g) in the case of the grant of a works licence—under section 279; and (h) in the case of the renewal of a works licence—under section 296. > provisional holder means a person who has been provisionally granted a licence. > recovery has the meaning given by section 24. > registered means registered in an offshore mining register. > Registration Fees Act means the Offshore Minerals (Registration Fees) Act 1981. > reserved block is a block that is declared to be reserved under section 18. > responsible Commonwealth Minister means the Commonwealth Minister who is responsible for the administration of this Act. > responsible State Minister, for a State means the State Minister who is authorised under a law of the State to perform the functions of a Designated Authority under this Act. > Retention Licence Fees Act means the Offshore Minerals (Retention Licence Fees) Act 1994. > Retention Licence User Charge Act means the Offshore Minerals (Retention Licence User Charge) Act 1994. > Royalty Act means the Offshore Minerals (Royalty) Act 1981. > sample of the seabed or subsoil in an offshore area includes a core or cutting from the seabed or subsoil in that area. > secondary payment period for the provisional grant or provisional renewal of a licence means the period of 30 days after the day on which an extension of the primary payment period for the grant or renewal concerned ends. > share in a licence has the meaning given by subsections 6(1), (2) and (3). > special purpose consent means a consent granted under Part 2.6. > standard block has the meaning given by section 19. > State has a meaning that is affected by the operation of section 5. > State Minister means: (a) a Minister of State for a State; or (b) a Minister of State for the Northern Territory. > successor licence to a licence has the meaning given by section 8. > Note: See section 15. > surrender day for an exploration licence means: (a) the day on which the initial term of the licence ends; or (b) a day on which the term of a renewal of the licence ends. > tender block has the meaning given by section 20. > the 1981 Act means the Minerals (Submerged Lands) Act 1981. > transfer: (a) when used in relation to a licence—has the meaning given by subsection 7(1); and (b) when used in relation to a share in a licence—has the meaning given by subsections 7(2) and (3). > vary a licence condition includes revoke or suspend. > Works Licence Fees Act means the Offshore Minerals (Works Licence Fees) Act 1981.