Mining Act 1971

For the purpose of making any geological, geophysical or geochemical investigation or survey, the Minister or the Director of Mines, or any person authorised in writing by the Minister or the Director, may—

enter and remain upon any land with such assistants, vehicles and equipment as may be necessary or expedient for the purposes of the investigation or survey; and

conduct such an investigation or survey on the land;

take, and remove from the land, any geological specimens or samples.

A person exercising a power under this section—

must not recover from any land more minerals than are reasonably necessary for the purpose of making the relevant investigation or survey;

must not unnecessarily impede or obstruct the lawful use or enjoyment of any land by an owner of the land.

A person who interferes with or obstructs any person in the exercise of any power conferred by this section shall be guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: $20 000 or imprisonment for

The Minister may publish, in such manner as he thinks fit, the results of an investigation or survey under this section.

At least 14 days before the Minister or the Director of Mines, or any authorised person, undertakes an investigation or survey under this section, the Minister may publish in the Gazette a notice—

describing the area of land in which the investigation or survey will be undertaken; and

setting out a completion date in respect of the investigation or survey.

The Minister may extend the completion date from time to time by publishing a further notice in the Gazette.

If a notice is published under subsection (5), the Minister may refuse to receive and consider an application for a mineral tenement in respect of the land described in the notice until the completion date set out in the notice.