What it does
The Petroleum Act 1998 (Vic) is the primary legislation regulating petroleum exploration and production in Victoria. Its stated purpose (section 1) is to "regulate petroleum exploration and production in Victoria." It establishes a comprehensive system of authorities under which companies must obtain permission before exploring for or producing petroleum, specifies the criteria for granting and renewing authorities, sets royalty and rental obligations, imposes operational and rehabilitation requirements, and provides for enforcement.
The Act is divided into 15 Parts. Parts 3 to 6A establish the authority types: exploration permits (Part 3), retention leases (Part 4), production licences (Part 5), pipeline licences (Part 6), and special drilling authorisations (Part 6A). Parts 7 to 9 deal with pipeline construction, land access, and operations on different categories of land. Part 10 governs royalties and rent. Parts 11 to 13 cover operational obligations, information, and enforcement. Parts 14 and 15 deal with review and miscellaneous matters.