150YXCommonwealth Minister may give directions to the Safety Authority

#### 150YX Commonwealth Minister may give directions to the Safety Authority Minister may give directions (1) The Commonwealth Minister may give written directions to the Safety Authority as to the performance of its functions or the exercise of its powers. > Note: For agreement and consultation requirements, see subsections (7) and (11). (2) Directions given by the Commonwealth Minister must not relate to operations at a particular facility. (3) Subsection (2) does not prevent the Commonwealth Minister from directing the Safety Authority to investigate a particular occurrence in relation to a facility located in Safety Authority waters. Responsible State/Northern Territory Minister may request the Commonwealth Minister to give a direction (4) A responsible State Minister or the responsible Northern Territory Minister may request the Commonwealth Minister to give a direction to the Safety Authority that relates wholly or principally to the Safety Authority’s operations in the designated coastal waters of the relevant State or the Northern Territory, as the case may be. (5) The Commonwealth Minister must use his or her best endeavours to make a decision on the request within 30 days after receiving the request. (6) If the Commonwealth Minister refuses the request, the Commonwealth Minister must give the Minister who made the request a written statement setting out the reasons for the refusal. Agreement of responsible State/Northern Territory Ministers (7) The Commonwealth Minister must not give a direction that relates wholly or principally to the Safety Authority’s operations in the designated coastal waters of one or more of the States and the Northern Territory unless the Commonwealth Minister has obtained the agreement of each responsible State or Northern Territory Minister concerned (the affected Minister or Ministers). Urgency (8) If the Commonwealth Minister is satisfied that the circumstances of a case are sufficiently urgent to warrant it, the Commonwealth Minister may, despite subsection (7), give a direction to the Safety Authority without obtaining the agreement of the affected Minister or Ministers concerned. (9) If the Commonwealth Minister gives a direction as mentioned in subsection (8), the direction expires at the end of the 30‑day period beginning on the day on which the direction was given unless, before the end of that period, the Commonwealth Minister has obtained the agreement of the affected Minister or Ministers concerned. (10) If a direction expires because of subsection (9), this Act does not prevent the Commonwealth Minister from giving a subsequent direction in the same or similar terms as the expired direction. Consultation with responsible State/Northern Territory Ministers (11) Before giving a direction that is not covered by subsection (7), the Commonwealth Minister must consult each responsible State or Northern Territory Minister. Compliance with directions (12) The Safety Authority must comply with any direction given by the Commonwealth Minister under this section. Other provisions do not limit this section (13) Sections 150XF and 150YW do not limit the scope of the directions that may be given by the Commonwealth Minister under this section.