Offshore Minerals Act 1994.

The Act sets up a licensing system for mining and exploration in Commonwealth-State offshore areas and provides for the applying of State legislation to those offshore areas so far as that legislation concern mining and exploration activities. The Commonwealth-State offshore area for a State is the area that is the adjacent area for the State for the purposes of the Petroleum (Submerged Lands) Act 1967.
The Act provides for five kinds of authorization: exploration licences; retention licences; mining licences; works licences; and special purpose consents. In respect of these authorizations, the Act provides rules relative to applications, grant, duration, renewal, obligations of the holder and expiry. The Act provides for the joint control on mining activities and administration of provisions of this Act by the Designated and Joint Authority. The Act also makes provision for the restoration of the environment and for other measure to protect the environment and wildlife and prohibits interference with native title, fishing and resource conservation.