Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1982

Notwithstanding subsection (2), where—

a permit, licence or pipeline licence is, under this part, to be deemed to continue in force until the Minister grants, or refuses to grant, the renewal of the permit, licence or pipeline licence; or

a licence is varied under section 45; or

a licensee enters into an agreement under section 59 or a direction is given to a licensee under that section; or

a permit or licence is partly cancelled, partly determined or surrendered as to 1 or more but not all of the blocks in respect of which it is in force; or

a pipeline licence is varied under section 71 or 72; or

a direction is given to a pipeline licensee under section 73; or

a pipeline licence is partly cancelled; or

an access authority is granted in respect of a block the subject of a permit or licence, or an access authority as in force in respect of such a block is varied; or

a permittee, licensee, pipeline licensee or the holder of a special prospecting authority or access authority applies, by instrument in writing served on the Minister—

for a variation or suspension of; or

for exemption from compliance with;

the Minister under this part or the regulations gives a direction or consent to a permittee, licensee, pipeline licensee or the holder of a special prospecting authority or access authority;

vary or suspend; or

exempt the permittee, licensee, pipeline licensee or the holder of the special prospecting authority or access authority from compliance with;

Subsection (1) does not authorise the making of an instrument to the extent that it would affect the term of a permit, licence or pipeline licence.

Where, in pursuance of subsection (1), the Minister suspends, or exempts the permittee from compliance with, any of the conditions to which a permit is subject, the Minister may, if the Minister considers that circumstances make it reasonable to do so, in the instrument of suspension or exemption or by a later instrument in writing served on the permittee, extend the term of the permit by a period not exceeding the period of suspension or exemption.