15Application of laws in the adjacent area

#### 15 Application of laws in the adjacent area 15 Application of laws in the adjacent area > > (1) Subject to this Act and the regulations, the provisions of the laws, whether written or unwritten, in force in New South Wales for the time being (other than laws of the Commonwealth) and the provisions of any instrument having effect under any of those laws, apply, as provided by this section, in the adjacent area and so apply as if that area were part of New South Wales. > > > (2) The laws referred to in subsection (1) do not include laws that for the time being apply in the adjacent area by virtue of the [Crimes at Sea Act 1998](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1998-173) or the [Application of Laws (Coastal Sea) Act 1980](/view/html/inforce/current/act-1980-146). > > > (3) A law shall be taken to be a law in force in New South Wales notwithstanding that that law applies to part only of New South Wales. > > > (4) The provisions referred to in subsection (1) apply to and in relation to all acts, omissions, matters, circumstances and things touching, concerning, arising out of or connected with the exploration of the sea-bed or subsoil of the adjacent area for petroleum and the exploitation of the natural resources, being petroleum, of that sea-bed or subsoil. > > > (5) Without limiting the operation of subsection (4), the provisions referred to in subsection (1) apply— > > > > > (a) to and in relation to— > > > > > > > (i) an act or omission that takes place in, on, above, below or in the vicinity of, and > > > > > > > (ii) a matter, circumstance or thing that exists or arises with respect to or in connection with, > > > > > > a vessel, aircraft, structure or installation, or equipment or other property, that is in the adjacent area for any reason touching, concerning, arising out of or connected with the exploration of the sea-bed or subsoil of the adjacent area for petroleum or the exploitation of the natural resources, being petroleum, of that sea-bed or subsoil, > > > > > (b) to and in relation to a person who— > > > > > > > (i) is in the adjacent area for a reason of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), or > > > > > > > (ii) is in, on, above, below or in the vicinity of a vessel, aircraft, structure or installation, or equipment or other property, that is in the adjacent area for a reason of the kind referred to in paragraph (a), and > > > > > (c) to and in relation to a person in respect of the person’s carrying on any operation or doing any work in the adjacent area for a reason of the kind referred to in paragraph (a). > > > (6) This section does not extend to the provisions of any law or instrument— > > > > > (a) in so far as they apply to or in relation to exploration for, or operations for the recovery of, petroleum, > > > > > (b) in so far as they apply to or in relation to the construction or operation of pipelines, > > > > > (c) in so far as they are incapable of application in the adjacent area, or > > > > > (d) in so far as they are expressed not to extend to or apply in the adjacent area. > > > (7) This section does not limit the operation that any law or instrument has apart from this section. > > > (8) The regulations may provide that such of the provisions referred to in subsection (1) as are specified in the regulations do not apply by reason of this section or so apply with such modifications as are specified in the regulations. > > > (9) For the purposes of subsection (8), modification includes the omission or addition of a provision or the substitution of a provision for another provision. > > **s 15:** Am 1998 No 173, Sch 2.2.