Power of Minister to vest property in historic shipwrecks and relics in the Crown
20 Power of Minister to vest property in historic shipwrecks and relics in the Crown
If the Minister is of the opinion that it is necessary to do so in order to protect the public interest, the Minister may, by notice in the
Gazette, declare any historic shipwreck or historic relic to be vested in the
Crown.
On the publication of a notice under subsection (1), the ownership of the historic shipwreck or historic relic vests in the Crown free of any other interest.
No notice may be published under subsection (1) in respect of a historic shipwreck or historic relic lawfully in the possession of a person at the commencement of this Act.
A person who would, but for the publication of a notice under this section, have been entitled to a historic shipwreck or historic relic, or to any interest in a historic shipwreck or historic relic, may, within six months of the publication of the notice, claim compensation for the loss by action against the Crown in the Supreme Court.
On a claim under subsection (4), the Supreme Court may award such compensation against the Crown as it considers just.
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