Petroleum Act 1984

(1) If petroleum is discovered within an exploration permit or licence area, the permittee or licensee must:

(a) notify the Minister of the discovery by using the approved form within 3 days after the discovery and in any case before any announcement is made about the discovery to the Australian Securities Exchange or to the general public; and

(b) provide the Minister with a report on the evaluation of the discovery by using the approved form within 3 months after the date of the discovery.

(2) A permittee or licensee commits an offence if the permittee or licensee is subject to a requirement under subsection (1) and the permittee or licensee fails to comply with that requirement.

Maximum penalty: 400 penalty units.

(3) An offence against subsection (2) is an offence of strict liability.

(4) The Minister may, by written notice, direct a permittee or licensee to provide further particulars of a discovery notified under subsection (1).

(5) A notice under subsection (4) may direct the permittee or licensee to provide the particulars:

(6) A permittee or licensee commits an offence if the permittee or licensee is given a direction under subsection (4) and the permittee or licensee contravenes the direction.

Maximum penalty: 200 penalty units.

(7) An offence against subsection (6) is an offence of strict liability.

(8) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (2) or (6) if the defendant took reasonable steps and exercised due diligence to prevent the commission of the offence.

(9) The defendant has a legal burden of proof in relation to a matter mentioned in subsection (8).