126Powers of inspectors

#### 126 Powers of inspectors (1) For the purposes of this Act and the regulations, an inspector (other than a Greater Sunrise visiting inspector), at all reasonable times and on production of the certificate furnished to him under section 125: (a) shall have access to any part of the adjacent area or the part of an adjacent area, specified in the certificate and to any structure, ship, aircraft or building in that area or part that, in his opinion, has been, is being or is to be used in connexion with petroleum exploration operations, operations for the recovery of petroleum, operations relating to the processing or storage of petroleum or the preparation of petroleum for transport or operations connected with the construction or operation of a pipeline in that area or part; (b) may inspect and test any equipment that, in his opinion has been, is being or is to be used in that area or part in connexion with any of those operations; and (c) may enter any structure, ship, aircraft, building or place in that area or part or in the State or Territory to which that area is, in Schedule 2, specified as being adjacent, in which, in his opinion, there are any documents relating to any of those operations and may inspect, take extracts from and make copies of any of those documents. (1A) For the purposes of paragraph (1)(c), the Eastern Greater Sunrise area is taken to be specified in Schedule 2 as being an adjacent area in respect of the Northern Territory. (1B) For the purposes of this Act and the regulations, a Greater Sunrise visiting inspector who produces, at a reasonable time, a certificate given to him or her under section 125: (a) is to be given access to the regions in: (i) the Eastern Greater Sunrise area; or (ii) the Principal Northern Territory PSL area; specified in the certificate; and (b) is to be given access to any structure, ship, aircraft or building in that region that, in his or her opinion, contains any equipment used to measure amounts of petroleum recovered from one or more of the Greater Sunrise unit reservoirs; and (c) may inspect and test any equipment that, in his or her opinion, is being used in that region to measure amounts of petroleum recovered from one or more of the Greater Sunrise unit reservoirs. (2) A person who is the occupier or person in charge of any building, structure or place, or is the person in charge of any ship, aircraft or equipment referred to in subsection (1) or (1B), shall provide an inspector with all reasonable facilities and assistance for the effective exercise of his powers under this section. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (3) A person shall not obstruct or hinder an inspector in the exercise of his powers under this section. Penalty: 50 penalty units. (4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse. > Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4), see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.