NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
RADIOACTIVE ORES AND CONCENTRATES (PACKAGING AND
TRANSPORT) ACT 1980
As in force at 10 February 2026
Table of provisions
Part I Preliminary
1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1
2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1
3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1
4 Application ....................................................................................... 2
Part II Administration
Division 1 Chief Inspector and inspectors
5 Chief Inspector ................................................................................ 2
6 Delegation ....................................................................................... 2
7 Inspector and inspector's power ...................................................... 3
8 Forfeiture of things seized ............................................................... 4
Division 2 Agent of owner
9 Owner must appoint agent............................................................... 4
10 Deputy agent ................................................................................... 5
11 Requirement or order given to agent ............................................... 5
Part III Licensing
12 Owner to apply for licence ............................................................... 6
13 Grant of licence ............................................................................... 6
14 Form and conditions of a licence ..................................................... 6
15 Cancellation of licence ..................................................................... 7
Part IV Offences
16 Person not to possess radioactive material ..................................... 7
17 Person not to store radioactive material .......................................... 7
18 Person not to package, &c., unless in compliance with code .......... 8
19 Liability of owner .............................................................................. 8
Part V Emergencies
20 Delay or accident to vehicle ............................................................. 8
21 Damage to packages, &c................................................................. 9
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 ii
22 Danger to persons or environment .................................................. 9
Part VI Miscellaneous
23 Prescribed records ........................................................................ 10
24 Offences ........................................................................................ 10
25 Adoption of code, &c. .................................................................... 10
26 Service of notice ............................................................................ 11
27 Averment ....................................................................................... 11
28 Regulations.................................................................................... 11
ENDNOTES
NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA
As in force at 10 February 2026
RADIOACTIVE ORES AND CONCENTRATES (PACKAGING AND
TRANSPORT) ACT
An Act to make provision for the packaging, storage and transport of
radioactive ores and concentrates
Part I Preliminary
1 Short title
This Act may be cited as the Radioactive Ores and Concentrates
(Packaging and Transport) Act 1980.
2 Commencement
This Act shall come into operation on a date to be fixed by the
Administrator by notice in the Gazette.
3 Interpretation
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
agent means an agent appointed for the purposes of section 9 and
includes a deputy agent appointed under section 10.
Chief Inspector means the Chief Inspector appointed under
section 5 and includes a person acting as Chief Inspector.
employee has the same meaning as it has in the Public Sector
Employment and Management Act 1993.
inspector means an inspector appointed under section 7 and
includes the Chief Inspector.
licence means a licence granted under section 13.
licensed premises means premises specified in a licence.
licensee means a person to whom a licence has been granted.
premises includes an enclosure, wharf, area of land and a place.
Part II Administration
Division 1 Chief Inspector and inspectors
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 2
radioactive material means uranium ores and concentrates,
uranium oxide (U3 0 8) and any other prescribed radioactive ore or
concentrate with a specific activity greater than 0.002 microcuries
per gram.
vehicle includes a motor vehicle within the meaning of the Motor
Vehicles Act 1949, an aircraft, a train and a vessel.
4 Application
(1) This Act does not apply to the packaging, storage or transport of
radioactive material in a place where any operation for the purpose
of mining radioactive material has been or is being carried on, or a
place where radioactive material will be, has been or is being,
treated, milled, refined or processed.
(2) This Act does not apply to the packaging, storage or transport of
radioactive material with a total measured dose rate at a distance of
one metre of less than 0.75 millirem per hour and a parent
radionuclide activity of less than 2.4 x 10 -4 curie.
(3) This Act binds the Crown.
Part II Administration
Division 1 Chief Inspector and inspectors
5 Chief Inspector
(1) The Minister may appoint an employee to be the Chief Inspector.
(2) The Minister may appoint an employee to act as Chief Inspector
during:
(a) a vacancy in the office; or
(b) a period, or all periods, when the Chief Inspector is absent
from duty or from the Territory.
(3) The Chief Inspector, in the performance of his functions and the
exercise of his powers, is subject to the directions of the Minister.
6 Delegation
(1) The Chief Inspector may, from time to time, by instrument in writing,
delegate to a person such of his powers and functions, other than
this power of delegation, as are specified in the instrument.
Part II Administration
Division 1 Chief Inspector and inspectors
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 3
(2) A delegation referred to in subsection (1) may be made generally or
for any particular case or class of cases or for a district or part of
the Territory.
(3) A power or function delegated under this section may be exercised
or performed, in accordance with the terms of the delegation, by the
person to whom the delegation is made.
(4) A delegation under this section is revocable at will and does not
prevent the exercise of the power or the performance of the
function by the Chief Inspector.
7 Inspector and inspector's power
(1) The Chief Inspector may appoint such employees as inspectors as
he thinks necessary for the purposes of this Act.
(2) Subject to any direction of the Chief Inspector, an inspector may:
(a) enter and inspect licensed premises, examine any records
required to be kept under this Act and take notes or extracts
therefrom;
(b) enter and inspect any premises which he believes on
reasonable grounds are being or have been used for the
storage of radioactive material;
(c) require a person in control of a vehicle, which he believes on
reasonable grounds is being used for the transport of
radioactive material, to stop the vehicle;
(d) detain a vehicle, which he believes on reasonable grounds is
being used for the transport of radioactive material, and
inspect the vehicle and its load;
(e) require the driver of any vehicle, which he believes on
reasonable grounds is carrying radioactive material, to take
the vehicle to the nearest available weighing facility and
require the driver to, or himself carry out, or cause to be
carried out, the weighing of the vehicle and its load;
(f) install and use any equipment or measuring device for
sampling, measuring or analysing any substance or material
which he believes on reasonable grounds may be, or may
contain, radioactive material; and
Part II Administration
Division 2 Agent of owner
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 4
(g) where he believes on reasonable grounds that an offence may
have been committed against this Act:
(i) seize any vehicle, radioactive material, package,
container, document, paper, record or other thing
relating to or used in connection with the packaging,
storage or transport of radioactive material which he
believes on reasonable grounds is related to the offence;
and
(ii) require a person who the inspector believes on
reasonable grounds may have committed the offence to
provide his name and such information relating to the
packaging, storage and transport of radioactive material
as the inspector thinks fit.
8 Forfeiture of things seized
(1) Where an inspector has seized a thing under section 7(2)(g)(i) he
shall, as soon as practicable, deliver the thing to the Chief Inspector
or a person nominated by the Chief Inspector.
(2) The Chief Inspector or person nominated by him may retain a thing
seized for 60 days after the date of its delivery to him or, if a
prosecution in relation to the thing is instituted within that time, until
the prosecution is disposed of.
(3) Where a prosecution in relation to a thing seized is instituted within
the 60 days referred to in subsection (2) and the person prosecuted
is found guilty, the court before which the person is found guilty
may order that the thing be forfeited to the Territory.
(4) Where a prosecution is not instituted within the 60 days referred to
in subsection (2) or, where the court does not order under
subsection (3) that a thing seized be forfeited to the Territory, the
Chief Inspector or other person having possession of the thing shall
return it to the person from whom it was seized or to the premises
from which it was seized.
Division 2 Agent of owner
9 Owner must appoint agent
(1) A person shall not transport radioactive material of which he is the
owner, or cause or allow that material to be transported, unless he
has as an agent for the purpose of this Act a natural person
resident in the Territory and employed by the owner.
Part II Administration
Division 2 Agent of owner
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 5
(2) An owner shall, on the appointment of an agent, give notice in
writing of the appointment to the Chief Inspector specifying:
(a) the name and address of the agent; and
(b) the date of the appointment.
(3) A notice of appointment of an agent shall be accompanied by an
acceptance in writing to act as agent signed by the agent.
(4) Notice of a change of agent shall be given in the same manner as
the notice of appointment of an agent and the provisions of
subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to and in relation to such a
notice.
10 Deputy agent
(1) Where an agent is likely to be absent from his employment or from
the Territory for more than 3 days the owner shall appoint a deputy
agent.
(2) An owner shall, on the appointment of a deputy agent, give notice
in writing of the appointment to the Chief Inspector specifying:
(a) the name and address of the person appointed;
(b) the date of the appointment; and
(c) the period for which the agent is likely to be absent from his
employment or the Territory.
(3) A notice of appointment referred to in subsection (2) shall be
accompanied by an acceptance in writing to act as deputy agent
signed by the person so appointed.
(4) Notice of a change of deputy agent shall be given in the same
manner as the notice of appointment of a deputy agent and the
provisions of subsections (2) and (3) shall apply to and in relation to
such a notice.
11 Requirement or order given to agent
Any requirement or order that may be made of or given to an owner
of radioactive material pursuant to this Act shall be deemed to be
made of or given to the owner if it is made of or given to the agent
of the owner.
Part III Licensing
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 6
Part III Licensing
12 Owner to apply for licence
(1) An owner of radioactive material, who intends to transport
radioactive material, or an agent of such an owner, may apply, in
the prescribed form, for a grant of a licence under section 13(a).
(2) A person who intends to use premises occupied by him for the
storage of radioactive material may apply, in the prescribed form,
for a grant of a licence under section 13(b).
13 Grant of licence
The Chief Inspector may grant a licence:
(a) to the owner of radioactive material authorizing the transport
of radioactive material owned by him; and
(b) to the occupier of premises authorizing the premises occupied
by him to be used for the storage of radioactive material.
14 Form and conditions of a licence
(1) A licence shall:
(a) be in the prescribed form;
(b) be subject to such conditions specified in the licence as the
Chief Inspector considers necessary for the safe packaging,
storage or transport of radioactive material;
(c) expire on the date specified in the licence or on the date
12 months after its date of issue, whichever is the earlier; and
(d) if it is a licence authorizing the occupier of premises to use
those premises for storage of radioactive material – specify
the premises in which that material is to be stored.
(2) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1)(b), the power to
impose conditions includes the power to impose conditions
specifying:
(a) the vehicle by which the radioactive material is to be
transported;
(b) the person by whom the radioactive material is to be
transported;
Part IV Offences
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 7
(c) the points of commencement and conclusion of the journey
and the route between those points by which the radioactive
material is to be transported;
(d) the number and weight of loads of radioactive material to be
transported; and
(e) the times within which each load of radioactive material is to
be transported.
15 Cancellation of licence
The Chief Inspector may, by notice in writing served on the
licensee, cancel a licence:
(a) where it has been granted subject to conditions and the
licensee is in breach of any of those conditions;
(b) where the licensee has committed an offence against this Act;
or
(c) where the Chief Inspector is of the opinion that, in the interests
of the safety of any person or for the purpose of preventing
damage to the environment, the licence should be cancelled.
Part IV Offences
16 Person not to possess radioactive material
Subject to this Act, a person shall not have in his possession or
under his control any radioactive material otherwise than under and
in accordance with the conditions of a licence.
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units and, in addition, 4 penalty
units for each day during which the offence
continues.
17 Person not to store radioactive material
Subject to this Act, a person shall not use, or allow or permit to be
used, any premises of which he is the occupier for the storage of
radioactive material otherwise than under and in accordance with
the conditions of a licence.
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units and, in addition, 4 penalty
units for each day during which the offence
continues.
Part V Emergencies
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 8
18 Person not to package, &c., unless in compliance with code
A person shall not package, store or transport radioactive material
unless it is packaged, stored or transported in compliance with a
code, rule, specification or regulation adopted under section 25(1).
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units and, in addition, 4 penalty
units for each day during which the offence
continues.
19 Liability of owner
(1) Where an employee or agent of, or a person under a contract to, an
owner of radioactive material has been found guilty of an offence
under this Act, and the offence was committed in the course of
employment or agency or whilst carrying out the contract, the owner
shall be guilty of an offence.
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units.
(2) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence under subsection (1)
that the owner took all reasonable steps to ensure that the
employee, agent or person under contract, as the case may be,
complied with this Act.
Part V Emergencies
20 Delay or accident to vehicle
(1) Where radioactive material is being transported by a vehicle and:
(a) the vehicle is involved in an accident or is subject to unusual
delay; or
(b) contamination of the environment or danger to any person has
occurred or, in the opinion of the person in control of the
vehicle may result from, a leakage or spillage of that material
from a container or package,
the person in control of the vehicle shall:
(c) forthwith notify an inspector of that fact;
(d) obey such instructions as an inspector may give; and
Part V Emergencies
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 9
(e) take all reasonable steps to prevent access to the vehicle or
the vicinity of the material by any person unless authorized by
an inspector to have such access.
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units and, in addition, 4 penalty
units for each day during which the offence
continues.
21 Damage to packages, &c.
Where, a licensee becomes aware that damage has occurred to a
package or container containing radioactive material on his licensed
premises, he shall:
(a) forthwith notify an inspector of that fact;
(b) obey such instructions as an inspector may give; and
(c) take all reasonable steps to prevent access to the package,
container and material or the vicinity of the package, container
and material by any person unless that person is authorized
by an inspector to have such access.
Maximum penalty: 40 penalty units and, in addition, 4 penalty
units for each day during which the offence
continues.
22 Danger to persons or environment
(1) Where radioactive material is being packaged, stored or
transported and, in the opinion of an inspector:
(a) a person may be in danger; or
(b) damage to the environment may result,
from contamination caused by a leakage or spillage of radioactive
material from a container or package, the inspector shall
immediately inform the Chief Inspector and the Chief Health Officer.
(2) An inspector may, if he is of the opinion that danger or damage
referred to in subsection (1) may occur:
(a) use such force as is reasonably necessary to prevent any
person entering or remaining in the vicinity of the danger;
(b) require the owner of the radioactive material to remove any
thing or do any other work to reduce or prevent danger or
damage; and
Part VI Miscellaneous
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 10
(c) if the owner fails to carry out a requirement made under
paragraph (b) or the inspector does not make such a
requirement – remove or authorize any person to remove any
thing or do any other work to reduce or prevent danger or
damage.
(3) The costs of any work ordered under subsection (2)(c) shall be a
debt due by the owner to the Territory.
(4) Where radioactive material is being packaged, stored or
transported and an inspector or the Chief Health Officer believes on
reasonable grounds that a person is in danger from radioactive
contamination he may require the person to undergo such medical
examination as the Chief Health Officer directs.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units.
Part VI Miscellaneous
23 Prescribed records
(1) A licensee shall keep such records as are prescribed.
(2) A licensee who fails to keep prescribed records is guilty of an
offence.
Maximum penalty: 8 penalty units.
24 Offences
(1) A person who contravenes or fails to comply with a provision of this
Act or the Regulations or a term or condition of any licence granted
under this Act or fails to comply with a lawful requirement, direction,
instruction or order made under this Act is guilty of an offence under
this Act.
(2) A person guilty of an offence under this Act, where no other penalty
is provided, is liable to a maximum penalty of 8 penalty units.
25 Adoption of code, &c.
(1) The Minister may by notice in the Gazette, adopt (wholly or in part)
a code, rule, specification or regulation that deals with packaging,
storing or transporting of radioactive material.
(2) The Minister may, by notice in the Gazette, make any appointment
necessary for and referred to in, a code, rule, specification or
regulation adopted under subsection (1).
Part VI Miscellaneous
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 11
(3) Where the Minister has adopted a code, rule, specification or
regulation, or part thereof, under subsection (1), the Chief Inspector
shall sell to a person a copy of such code, rule, specification, or part
thereof, upon payment of the prescribed amount by the person.
26 Service of notice
A notice required or permitted by this Act to be served on or given
to a person may be so served or given:
(a) to the agent of that person;
(b) by handing or tendering it to that person;
(c) if the person is a company – by leaving it at the registered
office of the company; or
(d) if the address of the first-mentioned person or his agent is not
known – by notice in the Gazette.
27 Averment
In any proceedings for an offence against this Act, an averment by
the prosecutor in a complaint or information that a specified person:
(a) was or was not, at a specified time, the holder of a licence; or
(b) was, at a specified time, the owner of radioactive material,
is evidence of the fact so averred.
28 Regulations
The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this
Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by this Act to be
prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for
carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
ENDNOTES
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 12
ENDNOTES
1 KEY Key to abbreviations
amd = amended od = order
app = appendix om = omitted
bl = by-law pt = Part
ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule
cl = clause rem = remainder
div = Division renum = renumbered
exp = expires/expired rep = repealed
f = forms s = section
Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule
hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision
ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation
lt = long title sub = substituted
nc = not commenced
2 LIST OF LEGISLATION
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 (Act No. 26,
1980)
Assent date 14 March 1980
Commenced 29 July 1980 (Gaz S24, 29 July 1980)
Public Sector Employment and Management (Consequential Amendments) Act 1993
(Act No. 28, 1993)
Assent date 30 June 1993
Commenced 1 July 1993 (s 2, s 2 Public Sector Employment and
Management Act 1993 (Act No. 11, 1993) and Gaz S53,
29 June 1993)
Sentencing (Consequential Amendments) Act 1996 (Act No. 17, 1996)
Assent date 19 April 1996
Commenced s 7: 19 April 1996; rem: 1 July 1996 (s 2, s 2 Sentencing
Act 1995 (Act No. 39, 1995) and Gaz S15, 13 June 1996)
Statute Law Revision Act 1997 (Act No. 17, 1997)
Assent date 11 April 1997
Commenced s 16: 10 December 1997; rem: 1 May 1997 (Gaz G17,
30 April 1997, p 2)
Statute Law Revision Act 2002 (Act No. 18, 2002)
Assent date 7 June 2002
Commenced 7 June 2002
Penalties Amendment (Justice and Treasury Legislation) Act 2010 (Act No. 38, 2010)
Assent date 18 November 2010
Commenced 1 February 2011(Gaz S6, 1 February 2011)
Public and Environmental Health Act 2011 (Act No. 7, 2011)
Assent date 16 March 2011
Commenced 1 July 2011 (Gaz S28, 3 June 2011)
ENDNOTES
Radioactive Ores and Concentrates (Packaging and Transport) Act 1980 13
Statute Law Revision and Repeals Act 2026 (Act No. 3, 2026)
Assent date 9 February 2026
Commenced 10 February 2026 (s 2)
3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS
General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table
of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation
Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1 and 3.
4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS
s 3 amd No. 28, 1993, s 3; No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 7, 2011, s 140
s 5 amd No. , 2026, s 54
s 8 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6
ss 16 – 18 amd No. 38, 2010, s 3
s 19 amd No. 17, 1996, s 6; No. 38, 2010, s 3
ss 20 – 21 amd No. 38, 2010, s 3
s 22 amd No. 17, 1997, s 17; No. 38, 2010, s 3
ss 23 – 24 amd No. 38, 2010, s 3
s 25 amd No. 18, 2002, s 4