Western Australian Consolidated Acts Western Australian Consolidated Acts (1) This section
applies if —
(a) 2 or
more applications are made under section 30 for the grant of a petroleum
exploration permit for the same block or blocks; or
(b) 2 or
more applications are made under section 30 for the grant of a geothermal
exploration permit for the same block or blocks.
(2) The Minister may
grant the permit to whichever applicant, in the Minister’s opinion, is
most deserving of the grant of the permit, having regard to criteria made
publicly available by the Minister.
(3) For the purposes
of subsection (2), the Minister may rank the applicants in the order in
which they are deserving of the grant, the most deserving applicant being
ranked highest.
(4) The Minister may
exclude from the ranking any applicant that, in the Minister’s opinion,
is not deserving of the grant of the permit.
(5) If the Minister is
of the opinion that, after considering the information accompanying the
applications, 2 or more of the applicants are equally deserving of the grant
of the permit, the Minister may, by written notice served on each of those
applicants, invite them to give to the Minister, within the period stated in
the notice, particulars of the applicant’s proposals for additional work
and expenditure in respect of the block or blocks specified in the
application, being particulars that the Minister considers to be relevant in
determining which of the applicants is most deserving of the grant of the
permit.
(6) If any particulars
are given by applicants to the Minister in accordance with the invitations
contained in the notices served under subsection (5), the Minister shall
have regard to the particulars in determining which of the applicants is most
deserving of the grant of the permit.
[Section 32A inserted by No. 42 of 2010
s. 7.]