Petroleum Act 1936

The amount for the time being due to all managers, clerks, miners, artisans, and labourers employed in or about any petroleum lease by or on behalf of the owner thereof in respect of their wages or other earnings in relation thereto, not exceeding four weeks’ wages or earnings to each such person, shall be a first charge upon the mining tenement in priority to any mortgage, charge, or other encumbrance; and, in the winding up of a company, the amount due at the date of the winding-up order to such persons in respect of such wages or earnings, not exceeding four weeks’ wages or earnings to each such person, shall be paid in priority to all other debts, secured or unsecured, of the company.

Such first charge shall include all costs awarded against any person or company in any proceeding before a court to recover such wages or earnings, and any costs, charges, or expenses properly incurred in enforcing such order.

The debts so charged upon a petroleum lease, and the debts so payable in priority to all other debts of a company, shall rank equally amongst themselves, and, if necessary, shall abate in equal proportions between themselves.