Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) Subject to this Act, the provisions of the laws in force in Queensland, whether written or unwritten, and as in force from time to time, and the provisions of any instrument made under any of those laws, apply in the adjacent area as if the adjacent area were part of the State.
(2) The provisions referred to in subsection (1) apply to and in relation to all acts, omissions, matters, circumstances and things touching, concerning, arising out of or connected with—
(a) exploring the sea-bed or subsoil of the adjacent area for petroleum, and exploiting the natural resources consisting of petroleum of the sea-bed or subsoil; or
(b) conveying petroleum, wherever recovered, across the adjacent area.
(3) This section does not—
(a) extend to the provisions of any law or instrument—
(i) in so far as they expressly provide for the exploration for or operations for the recovery of petroleum; or
(ii) in so far as they expressly provide for the construction or operation of pipelines; or
(iii) in so far as they are incapable of application in the adjacent area; or
(iv) in so far as they are expressed not to extend to or apply in the adjacent area; or
(b) operate so as to apply the provisions of any law of the Commonwealth in any part of the adjacent area in which that law applies.
(4) The regulations may provide that any provisions referred to in subsection (1) that are specified in the regulations do not apply by reason of this section or apply with prescribed modifications only.
(5) Regulations made for the purposes of subsection (4) may provide that prescribed provisions be added to or substituted for any of the provisions referred to in subsection (1).