SEA INSTALLATIONS ACT 1987

This compilation was prepared on 24 February 2010
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 4 of 2010

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing ,
Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra

Contents

Part I--Preliminary 1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Objects of Act .................................................................................... 1

4............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

5............ Adjacent areas ..................................................................................... 8

6............ Installation of sea installations ......................................................... 10

7............ Attachments to sea installations ....................................................... 11

8............ Extension to external Territories ....................................................... 12

9............ Act to bind Crown ............................................................................ 12

10.......... Consultation with States and Territories .......................................... 12

11.......... Application of Act ........................................................................... 12

12.......... Saving of other laws .......................................................................... 12

13.......... Act to apply subject to international obligations ............................. 13

13A....... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 13

Part II--Prohibitions relating to sea installations 14

14.......... Installation of sea installations without permit prohibited .............. 14

15.......... Use of sea installations without permit prohibited .......................... 14

16.......... Certain work on sea installations without permit prohibited ........... 15

Part III--Permits to operate sea installations 16

Division 1--Grant of permits 16

17.......... Permit to operate sea installation ..................................................... 16

18.......... Eligibility for permit ......................................................................... 16

19.......... Permit not to be granted in certain circumstances ............................ 17

20.......... Application for permit ..................................................................... 17

21.......... Form of permit ................................................................................. 18

22.......... Operation of permit .......................................................................... 19

Division 2--Conditions of permits 20

23.......... Conditions of all permits .................................................................. 20

24.......... Special conditions of particular permits ........................................... 20

Division 3--Renewal of permits 22

25.......... Renewal of permit ............................................................................ 22

26.......... Application for renewal of permit .................................................... 22

27.......... Form and operation of renewal of permit ......................................... 23

Division 4--Variation of permits 24

28.......... Variation of permit ........................................................................... 24

29.......... Permit not to be varied in certain circumstances .............................. 25

30.......... Notice of variation of permit ........................................................... 25

31.......... Application to vary permit .............................................................. 25

32.......... Form and operation of variation of permit ....................................... 26

Division 6--Suspension and revocation of permits 28

34.......... Suspension of permit ........................................................................ 28

35.......... Revocation of permit ........................................................................ 28

Division 7--Miscellaneous 30

36.......... Publication in Gazette ....................................................................... 30

37.......... Securities etc. .................................................................................... 30

38.......... Sea Installations Account ................................................................. 31

39.......... Permits not evidence of compliance with law .................................. 31

Part IV--Exemption certificates 32

40.......... Exemption certificate ........................................................................ 32

41.......... Application for exemption certificate ............................................... 32

42.......... Form of exemption certificate ........................................................... 33

43.......... Termination of exemption certificate ................................................ 34

44.......... Effect of exemption certificates ........................................................ 34

Part V--Application of laws and jurisdiction of courts in relation to sea installations 35

45.......... Application of Commonwealth Acts in adjacent areas .................... 35

46.......... Application of laws in areas adjacent to States ................................ 36

47.......... Application of laws in areas adjacent to Territories ......................... 38

48.......... Installations and goods deemed to have been imported into certain external Territories 39

49.......... Jurisdiction of courts ........................................................................ 40

50.......... Rules of courts .................................................................................. 40

Part VI--Offences and procedures relating to sea installations 41

51.......... Direct journeys between sea installations and external places prohibited 41

52.......... Maintenance of sea installations etc. ................................................ 45

53.......... Notice of bad condition of sea installation ....................................... 45

54.......... Repairs to avoid adverse effect on environment ............................... 46

55.......... Directions for removal of sea installations etc. ................................. 47

56.......... Forfeiture .......................................................................................... 48

57.......... Safety zones ..................................................................................... 48

58.......... Contravention of conditions ............................................................. 49

59.......... Injunctions ........................................................................................ 50

Part VII--Administration 53

60.......... Appointment of inspectors .............................................................. 53

61.......... Identity cards .................................................................................... 53

62.......... Power of entry .................................................................................. 53

63.......... Power to require information ............................................................ 56

65.......... Indictable offences ............................................................................ 57

66.......... Conduct by directors, servants or agents ......................................... 58

Part VIII--Installation levy collection 60

67.......... Time for payment of installation levy .............................................. 60

68.......... Penalty for non‑payment ................................................................. 60

69.......... Recovery of levy and penalties ........................................................ 60

70.......... Valuation of sea installations ............................................................ 61

71.......... Authorised valuers ............................................................................ 61

Part IX--Miscellaneous 62

72.......... Fees ................................................................................................... 62

73.......... Recompense of expenses incurred by States etc. ............................. 62

74.......... Delegation ......................................................................................... 62

75.......... Application for review ..................................................................... 63

76.......... Statement to accompany notice of decisions .................................... 64

77.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 64

78.......... Transitional--sea installations installed before commencement of Act 65

Schedule--Acts applying in adjacent areas 68

Notes 71

An Act relating to certain installations in the sea

Notes to the Sea Installations Act 1987

Note 1

The Sea Installations Act 1987 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 102, 1987 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 16 July 1999 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Sea Installations Act 1987	102, 1987	6 Nov 1987	Part I (ss. 1-13): 15 Oct 1987 Remainder: Royal Assent
Taxation Laws Amendment Act 1988	11, 1988	26 Apr 1988	S. 14: 24 June 1986 Part VI (ss. 43, 44): 1 Sept 1987 Part VII (ss. 45, 46): 6 Nov 1987 Part VIII (ss. 47, 48): 18 Dec 1987 (see s. 2(5)) Part IX (ss. 49, 50): 18 Dec 1987 (see s. 2(6)) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Civil Aviation Act 1988	63, 1988	15 June 1988	Part III (ss. 17-32), s. 98, Part IX (s. 99) and Part X (ss. 100-103): 1 July 1988 (see Gazette 1988, No. S189) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Arts, Territories and Environment Legislation Amendment Act 1989	60, 1989	19 June 1989	Ss. 11 and 13: 7 Dec 1988 Part 5 (ss. 14, 15): 11 May 1989 (see s. 2(3) and Gazette 1989, No. S164) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1989	63, 1989	19 June 1989	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Part 5 (ss. 17, 18): 30 June 1989 (see s. 2(3)) Remainder: 1 July 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S230)	--
as amended by
Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act 1990	11, 1991	21 Jan 1991	S. 45 (in part): (a)	--
Therapeutic Goods Act 1989	21, 1990	17 Jan 1990	15 Feb 1991	--
as amended by
Community Services and Health Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1990	141, 1990	28 Dec 1990	Part 8 (ss. 78-81): (b)	--
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1991	99, 1991	27 June 1991	Part 1 (ss. 1, 2): Royal Assent Part 2 (ss. 3-22), ss. 23 and 25: 1 July 1991 Remainder: 1 Feb 1992 (see Gazette 1992, No. S32)	Ss. 3-22
AUSSAT Repeal Act 1991	145, 1991	21 Oct 1991	Part 3 (ss. 8-12): 1 Feb 1992 (see Gazette 1992, No. S46) Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Fisheries Legislation (Consequential Provisions) Act 1991	163, 1991	10 Nov 1991	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 3 Feb 1992 (see Gazette 1992, No. GN1)	--
Broadcasting Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	105, 1992	9 July 1992	5 Oct 1992 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1992, No. GN38)	S. 3
Radiocommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1992	167, 1992	11 Dec 1992	1 July 1993	--
Maritime Legislation Amendment Act 1994	20, 1994	15 Feb 1994	1 Aug 1994 (see Gazette 1994, No. S289)	--
Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act 1994	64, 1994	30 May 1994	S. 3(3): Royal Assent (c)	--
Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment Act 1995	82, 1995	30 June 1995	S. 5 (item 24): 6 July 1995 (see Gazette 1995, No. S270) (d)	--
Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1997	59, 1997	3 May 1997	Schedule 1 (item 48): 1 July 1997 (e)	--
Primary Industries and Energy Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1997	94, 1997	30 June 1997	Schedule 8: 4 Sept 1997 (see Gazette 1997, No. S347) (f)	--
Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997	152, 1997	24 Oct 1997	Schedule 2 (items 1193, 1194): 1 Jan 1998 (see Gazette 1997, No. GN49) (g)	--
Telecommunications Legislation Amendment Act 1999	52, 1999	5 July 1999	Schedule 3 (item 8): 2 Aug 1999 (h)	--
Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999	92, 1999	16 July 1999	Schedule 3 (items 49-55): 16 July 2000 (i)	Sch. 3 (item 55) [see Table A]
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999	146, 1999	11 Nov 1999	Schedule 1 (item 811): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (j)	--
Crimes at Sea Act 2000	13, 2000	31 Mar 2000	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent Remainder: 31 Mar 2001	Sch. 2 (item 11) [see Table A]
Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act 2000	107, 2000	19 July 2000	16 Aug 2000	Ss. 4, 5 [see Table A]
Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001	15, 2001	22 Mar 2001	S. 4 and Schedule 1 (items 129-145): 24 May 2001 (k)	S. 4 [see Table A]
Proceeds of Crime (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2002	86, 2002	11 Oct 2002	Ss. 1-3: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Jan 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 2002, No. GN44)	--
Aviation Transport Security (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004	9, 2004	10 Mar 2004	Schedules 1-3: 10 Mar 2005 (see s. 2) Remainder: Royal Assent	Sch. 3 (am. by 149, 2004, Sch.2 [items 2, 3]) [see Table A]
as amended by
Aviation Security Amendment Act 2004	149, 2004	14 Dec 2004	Schedule 2 (item 2): (l) Schedule 2 (item 3): Royal Assent	--
Age Discrimination (Consequential Provisions) Act 2004	40, 2004	21 Apr 2004	Schedule 1 (item 12): 23 June 2004 (see s. 2)	--
Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005	8, 2005	22 Feb 2005	S. 4 and Schedule 1 (items 317, 496): Royal Assent	S. 4 and Sch. 1 (item 496) [see Table A]
Offshore Petroleum (Repeals and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006	17, 2006	29 Mar 2006	Schedule 2 (items 103-107): 1 July 2008 (see s. 2(1) and F2008L02273)	--
Excise Laws Amendment (Fuel Tax Reform and Other Measures) Act 2006	74, 2006	26 June 2006	Schedule 1 (item 96): 1 July 2006	--
Dental Benefits (Consequential Amendments) Act 2008	42, 2008	25 June 2008	Schedule 1 (item 18): 26 June 2008 (see s. 2(1))	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2008	73, 2008	3 July 2008	Schedule 3 (item 27): Royal Assent	--
Offshore Petroleum Amendment (Greenhouse Gas Storage) Act 2008	117, 2008	21 Nov 2008	Schedule 3 (item 58): 22 Nov 2008	--
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010	4, 2010	19 Feb 2010	Schedule 10 (items 25, 26): 20 Feb 2010	--

(a) The Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 was amended by section 45 only of the Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act 1990, subsection 2(13)(e) of which provides as follows:

(e) each amendment of a provision of, or an item in a Schedule to, the Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 is taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of the provision, or item, concerned.

Section 74 of the Telecommunications and Postal Services (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1989 came into operation on 1 July 1989 (see Gazette 1989, No. S230).

(b) The Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 was amended by Part 8 (sections 78-81) only of the Community Services and Health Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1990, subsection 2(6) of which provides as follows:

(6) Part 8 commences immediately after the commencement of the Therapeutic Goods Act 1989.

The Therapeutic Goods Act 1989 came into operation on 15 February 1991.

(c) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by subsection 3(3) only of the Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act 1994, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

(1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(d) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by section 5 (item 24) only of the Civil Aviation Legislation Amendment Act 1995, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on:

(a) a day to be fixed by Proclamation; or

(b) the first day after the end of the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent;

whichever is earlier.

(e) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 48) only of the Telecommunications (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 1997, subsection 2(2)(d) of which provides as follows:

(2) The following provisions commence on 1 July 1997:

(d) Schedule 1.

(f) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 8 only of the Primary Industries and Energy Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1997, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

(4) The items of Schedules 4, 6, 7 and 8 commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

(g) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 1193 and 1194) only of the Audit (Transitional and Miscellaneous) Amendment Act 1997, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

(2) Schedules 1, 2 and 4 commence on the same day as the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997.

(h) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 3 (item 8) only of the Telecommunications Legislation Amendment Act 1999, subsection 2(4) of which provides as follows:

(4) Subject to subsection (5), Schedule 3 commences on the commencement of section 1 of the Telecommunications (Consumer Protection and Service Standards) Act 1999.

(i) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 3 (items 49-54) only of the Environmental Reform (Consequential Provisions) Act 1999, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:

(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences when the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 commences.

(j) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 1 (item 811) only of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999, subsections 2(1) and (2) of which provide as follows:

(1) In this Act, commencing time means the time when the Public Service Act 1999 commences.

(2) Subject to this section, this Act commences at the commencing time.

(k) The Sea Installations Act 1987 was amended by Schedule 1 (items 129-145) only of the Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(c) of which provides as follows:

(1) Subject to this section, this Act commences on the latest of the following days:

(c) the day on which item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 commences.

(l) Subsection 2(1) (item 3) of the Aviation Security Amendment Act 2004 provides as follows:

(1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

Commencement information
Column 1	Column 2	Column 3
Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
3. Schedule 2, items 1 and 2	The later of: (a) the start of the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent; and (b) immediately after the commencement of section 3 of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.	10 March 2005 (paragraph (b) applies)

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part I
S. 4......................................	am. No. 60, 1989; No. 163, 1991; No. 20, 1994; No. 94, 1997; No. 17, 2006; No. 117, 2008
S. 5......................................	am. No. 20, 1994; No. 17, 2006
S. 6......................................	am. No. 60, 1989
S. 13A.................................	ad. No. 15, 2001
Part II
Ss. 14-16............................	am. No. 15, 2001
Part III
Division 1
S. 19....................................	am. No. 107, 2000
S. 20....................................	am. No. 92, 1999
Division 3
S. 26....................................	am. No. 92, 1999
Division 4
S. 29....................................	am. No. 107, 2000
S. 30....................................	am. No. 60, 1989
S. 31....................................	am. No. 92, 1999
Div. 5 of Part III....................	rep. No. 92, 1999
S. 33....................................	am. No. 60, 1989
	rep. No. 92, 1999
Division 7
Heading to s. 38..................	am. No. 152, 1997
S. 38....................................	am. No. 152, 1997
	rs. No. 8, 2005
Part IV
S. 41....................................	am. No. 92, 1999
Part V
Ss. 46, 47............................	am. No. 13, 2000; No. 17, 2006
Part VI
S. 51....................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 56....................................	am. No. 15, 2001; No. 4, 2010
S. 57....................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 58....................................	rs. No. 15, 2001
Part VII
S. 61....................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 62....................................	am. No. 15, 2001; No. 4, 2010
S. 63....................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 64....................................	rep. No. 15, 2001
S. 65....................................	am. No. 15, 2001
S. 66....................................	am. No. 60, 1989
Part IX
S. 72....................................	am. No. 60, 1989
S. 74....................................	am. No. 60, 1989; No. 146, 1999
Schedule
Schedule.............................	am. Nos. 11 and 63, 1988; No. 63, 1989 (as am. by No. 11, 1991); No. 21, 1990 (as am. by No. 141, 1990); Nos. 99 and 145, 1991; Nos. 105 and 167, 1992; No. 64, 1994; No. 82, 1995; No. 59, 1997; Nos. 52 and 92, 1999; No. 86, 2002; Nos. 9 and 40, 2004; No. 74, 2006; Nos. 42 and 73, 2008

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Crimes At Sea Act 2000 (No. 13, 2000)

Schedule 2

11 Application of amendments

(1) The amendments made by this Schedule apply to acts and omissions that take place after this Schedule commences.

(2) Although this Schedule repeals the Crimes at Sea Act 1979, that Act continues to apply, in relation to acts and omissions that took place before this Schedule commences, as if the repeal had not happened.

(3) For the purposes of this item, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between two dates, one before and one on or after the day on which this Schedule commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before this Schedule commences.

Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (No. 107, 2000)

4 Transitional--continuation of existing permits

A permit in force immediately before the commencement of this Act under section 19 of the Environment Protection (Sea Dumping) Act 1981 continues in effect as if it had been issued under that Act, as amended by this Act.

5 Regulations

(1) The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:

(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

(2) In particular, regulations may be made for matters of a transitional or saving nature arising from the amendments made by this Act.

Environment and Heritage Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 15, 2001)

4 Application of amendments

(1) Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

(2) For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.

Aviation Transport Security (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2004 (No. 9, 2004)

Schedule 3

1 Regulations

(1) The Governor‑General may make regulations prescribing matters:

(a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or

(b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

(2) In particular, regulations may be made:

(a) providing for regulations made for the purposes of particular provisions of the old Act to continue to have effect (with any prescribed alterations) for the purposes of the new Act; and

(b) providing for aviation security programs approved under the old Act to continue to be taken to be in force (with any prescribed alterations and for such time as is prescribed) as transport security programs under the new Act; and

(ba) providing for airport security programs approved under the old Act to continue to be taken to be in force (with any prescribed alterations and for such time as is prescribed) as transport security programs under the new Act; and

(bb) providing for ASIC programs and international cargo security programs approved under the old Act to continue to be taken to be in force (with any prescribed alterations and for such time as is prescribed) as transport security programs under the new Act, or as such other programs under the new Act as are prescribed by the regulations; and

(3) In this item:

new Act means the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004.

old Act means the Air Navigation Act 1920 as in force immediately before the commencement of this item.

2 Aviation security program continuation

Subsection 15(2) (which deals with the obligation for aviation industry participants to comply with the transport security programs of other participants) of the Aviation Transport Security Act 2004 does not apply in relation to a program continued as a transport security program under paragraph 1(2)(b) of this Schedule.

3 Transitional provision

The exercise or purported exercise (whether before, at or after the commencement of this item) of the power under regulation 5 of the Air Navigation (Aviation Security Status Checking) Regulations 2004 to determine that a person has an adverse aviation security status is taken for all purposes to be, and is taken for all purposes always to have been, prescribed administrative action in respect of the person for the purposes of Part IV of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979.

Financial Framework Legislation Amendment Act 2005 (No. 8, 2005)

4 Saving of matters in Part 2 of Schedule 1

(1) If:

(a) a decision or action is taken or another thing is made, given or done; and

(b) the thing is taken, made, given or done under a provision of a Part 2 Act that had effect immediately before the commencement of this Act;

then the thing has the corresponding effect, for the purposes of the Part 2 Act as amended by this Act, as if it had been taken, made, given or done under the Part 2 Act as so amended.

(2) In this section:

Part 2 Act means an Act that is amended by an item in Part 2 of Schedule 1.

Schedule 1

496 Saving provision--Finance Minister's determinations

If a determination under subsection 20(1) of the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 is in force immediately before the commencement of this item, the determination continues in force as if it were made under subsection 20(1) of that Act as amended by this Act.

Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

SEA INSTALLATIONS ACT 1987 - NOTES