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COMMONWEALTHAct
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s 18

General nuclear safety duty

In force
Part 2Ensuring nuclear safety when conducting regulated activities
Division 2Nuclear safety duties
Subdivision ANuclear safety duties applying to all persons conducting regulated activities

18 General nuclear safety duty

(1)

A person who conducts a regulated activity must, so far as reasonably practicable, ensure nuclear safety when conducting the activity.

Civil penalty provisions

(2)

A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes subsection (1).

Note 1:

It is not necessary to prove a person’s state of mind in proceedings for a contravention of a civil penalty provision, except in limited circumstances (see section 94 of the Regulatory Powers Act).

Note 2:

Under subsection 82(5) of the Regulatory Powers Act, the pecuniary penalty imposed for a contravention of a civil penalty provision must not be more than that specified for the provision (or, for a body corporate, not more than 5 times that specified).

Civil penalty: 10,000 penalty units.

(3)

A person is liable to a civil penalty if:

(a)

the person contravenes subsection (1); and

(b)

a nuclear safety incident occurs; and

(c)

the contravention caused or contributed to the nuclear safety incident.

Note 1:

It is not necessary to prove a person’s state of mind in proceedings for a contravention of a civil penalty provision, except in limited circumstances (see section 94 of the Regulatory Powers Act).

Note 2:

Under subsection 82(5) of the Regulatory Powers Act, the pecuniary penalty imposed for a contravention of a civil penalty provision must not be more than that specified for the provision (or, for a body corporate, not more than 5 times that specified).

Civil penalty: 20,000 penalty units.

Offences

(4)

A person commits an offence if:

(a)

the person engages in conduct; and

(b)

the conduct is a regulated activity; and

(c)

the conduct results in a contravention of subsection (1).

Penalty:

(a)

for an individual—imprisonment for 12 years or 700 penalty units, or both; or

(b)

for a body corporate—28,000 penalty units.

(5)

A person commits an offence if:

(a)

the person engages in conduct; and

(b)

the conduct is a regulated activity; and

(c)

the conduct results in a contravention of subsection (1); and

(d)

a nuclear safety incident occurs; and

(e)

the person is reckless, or negligent, as to whether the conduct would cause or contribute to the nuclear safety incident.

Penalty:

(a)

for an individual—imprisonment for 25 years or 1,400 penalty units, or both; or

(b)

for a body corporate—57,500 penalty units.

(6)

Strict liability applies to paragraphs (4)(b) and (5)(b) and (d).

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