Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

SPACE ACTIVITIES ACT 1998

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--INTRODUCTION

   1.      Short title [see Note 1]  
   2.      Commencement [see Note 1]  
   3.      Objects of Act  
   4.      Simplified outline of Act  
   5.      Act binds the Crown  
   6.      External Territories  
   7.      Application of Criminal Code  

   PART 2--DEFINITIONS

   8.      Definitions  
   8A.     Approved scientific or educational organisations  
   8B.     Guidelines for making a declaration  
   8C.     Applying for a declaration  
   9.      Related party  

   PART 3--REGULATION OF SPACE ACTIVITIES

   10.     Simplified outline  

           Division 1--Certain space activities require approvals etc

   11.     Launch in Australia requires a launch permit or exemption certificate  
   12.     Overseas launch requires an overseas launch certificate  
   13.     Return to Australia of Australian-launched space object requires a launch permit or exemption certificate  
   14.     Return to Australia of overseas-launched space object requires authorisation  
   15.     Space licence required to operate a launch facility in Australia  
   16.     Commonwealth not bound  
   17.     Activities of international space organisations  

           Division 2--Space licences

   18.     Granting a space licence  
   19.     Terms of space licence  
   20.     Standard space licence conditions  
   21.     Breaching a space licence condition  
   22.     Transfer of space licence  
   23.     Applying for the grant, variation or transfer of a space licence  
   24.     Procedure etc.  
   25.     Suspending a space licence  
   25A.    Annual review of space licence  

           Division 3--Launch permits

   26.     Granting a launch permit  
   27.     Australian launches: continuing requirement for space licence  
   28.     Terms of launch permit  
   29.     Standard launch permit conditions  
   30.     Breaching a launch permit condition  
   31.     Transfer of launch permit  
   32.     Applying for the grant, variation or transfer of a launch permit  
   33.     Procedure etc.  
   34.     Suspending a launch permit  

           Division 4--Overseas launch certificates

   35.     Granting an overseas launch certificate  
   36.     Terms of overseas launch certificate  
   37.     Breaching a condition  
   38.     Transfer of overseas launch certificate  
   39.     Applying for the grant, variation or transfer of an overseas launch certificate  
   40.     Procedure etc.  
   41.     Suspending an overseas launch certificate  

           Division 5--Authorisation of return of overseas-launched space objects

   42.     Scope of Division  
   43.     Returns may be authorised by permission or by agreement  
   44.     Offences relating to returns  
   45.     Breaching a condition  
   45A.    Applying for an authorisation or for the variation of an authorisation  
   45B.    Procedure etc.  
   45C.    Suspending an authorisation under section 43  

           Division 6--Exemption certificates

   46.     Exemption certificates  
   46A.    Terms of exemption certificate  
   46B.    Breaching a condition  

           Division 7--Insurance

   47.     Satisfying the insurance/financial requirements  
   48.     Insurance requirements  
   49.     Additional insurance not precluded  

           Division 8--Launch Safety Officer

   50.     Launch Safety Officer  
   51.     Functions of Launch Safety Officer  
   52.     Powers of Launch Safety Officer  
   53.     Offence of failing to comply with directions  
   54.     Procedure for giving and complying with directions  
   55.     Launch Safety Officer to comply with Minister's instructions  
   56.     Seizures in emergency situations  
   57.     Launch Safety Officer may obtain assistance  
   58.     Identity cards  

           Division 9--Administration etc

   59.     Fees  
   60.     Request for information  
   61.     Review of decisions  
   62.     Notice of decisions  

   PART 4--LIABILITY FOR DAMAGE BY SPACE OBJECTS

           Division 1--Scope of Part

   63.     Damage covered  
   64.     Compensation for third party damage by space objects to be determined solely under this Part  
   65.     Regulations about waivers  

           Division 2--Liability for third party damage

              Subdivision A--Rules for damage caused by launches and most returns

   66.     Scope of Subdivision  
   67.     Damage on Earth or in the air  
   68.     Damage to other space objects  
   69.     Limit on amount of permit or certificate holder's liability  

              Subdivision B--Rules for certain returns conducted by overseas nationals

   70.     Scope of Subdivision  
   71.     Liability  

           Division 3--Procedure etc

   72.     Federal Court has jurisdiction  
   73.     Action for compensation  

           Division 4--Compensation claims by foreign countries

   74.     Responsible party's liability to the Commonwealth  
   75.     Claims Commission  

   PART 5--REGISTER OF SPACE OBJECTS

   76.     Minister to keep Register  
   77.     Registration number  
   78.     Register may be kept on computer  
   79.     Inspection of Register  

   PART 5A--IMPLEMENTATION OF SPACE COOPERATION AGREEMENTS

   79A.    Implementation of intergovernmental agreement with Russia  
   79B.    Regulations may amend Schedule  

   PART 6--CIVIL PENALTIES

   80.     Civil penalty provisions  
   81.     Fines for contravening civil penalty provisions  
   82.     Procedure  
   83.     Not an offence to contravene civil penalty provision  

   PART 7--INVESTIGATION OF ACCIDENTS

           Division 1--Scope of Part

   84.     Scope of Part  
   85.     Meaning of accident  
   86.     Meaning of incident  

           Division 2--Investigations

   87.     Object of Division  
   88.     Appointing an Investigator  
   89.     Investigator to investigate accident or incident  
   90.     Investigator may invite assistance  
   91.     Investigator's powers to gather information  
   92.     Offences relating to section 91 requirements  
   93.     Report of investigation  
   94.     Custody of space object etc.  
   95.     Automatic suspension of launch permit etc. after accident  
   96.     Disclosure of safety records  
   97.     Relationship with other powers  

           Division 3--Accident site powers

   98.     Accident sites and accident site premises  
   99.     Power of entry to accident site  
   100.    Procedure before entry  
   101.    Identity cards  
   102.    Availability of assistance and use of force in entering accident site premises  
   103.    Offence of entering etc. an accident site without permission  

   PART 8--MISCELLANEOUS

   104.    Delegation  
   105.    Operation of other laws  
   106.    Immunity  
   107.    Compensation--constitutional safety net  
   108.    Severability: additional effect of Act  
   109.    Application of Act: pre-existing agreement  
   110.    Regulations  
           SCHEDULE 1 Convention on International Liability for Damage Caused by Space Objects
           SCHEDULE 2 Convention on Registration of Objects Launched into Outer Space
           SCHEDULE 3 Treaty on Principles Governing the Activities of States in the Exploration and Use of Outer Space, including the Moon and other Celestial Bodies
           SCHEDULE 4 Agreement Governing the Activities of States on the Moon and other Celestial Bodies
           SCHEDULE 5 Agreement on the Rescue of Astronauts, the Return of Astronauts and the Return of Objects Launched into Outer Space
           SCHEDULE 6 Agreement between the Government of Australia and the Government of the Russian Federation on Cooperation in the Field of the Exploration and Use of Outer Space for Peaceful Purposes