✦ Plain-English Summary

Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Amendment (Miscellaneous Amendments) Bill 2019

What it does

This bill makes 18 different technical updates to Australia's rules for offshore oil and gas operations and underground carbon storage projects. It tidies up the existing law with fixes to inspection powers, penalty systems, fee structures, and how the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA) operates.

Why it matters

These changes affect how the government enforces safety and environmental standards on offshore drilling platforms and carbon storage sites in Australian waters. Tightening inspection powers and enforcement tools means stronger oversight of operations that could impact marine environments and worker safety.

Key details

• Inspection powers: NOPSEMA gets expanded authority to inspect wells and equipment to check they meet safety standards
• Penalties and compliance: The bill introduces new civil penalty options and "enforceable undertakings" (formal agreements companies must sign) as alternatives to court cases, making enforcement faster
• Fee updates: Companies pay adjusted fees to the Titles Administrator (the government body managing permits), with amounts now set by regulation rather than in the law itself, allowing easier adjustments

The bill passed Parliament and affects anyone operating offshore petroleum licences or carbon storage projects in Commonwealth waters.

Official Description

Introduced with the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment Bill 2019, the bill amends the Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 to: transfer regulatory responsibility for offshore greenhouse gas wells and environmental management from the minister to the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environmental Management Authority (NOPSEMA); strengthen and clarify the powers of NOPSEMA inspectors to monitor and enforce compliance by regulated entities with their obligations under the Act and associated regulations; ensure valid designation of certain areas as 'frontier areas' for the purposes of the Designated Frontier Area tax incentive; make minor policy and technical amendments in relation to the operation of the Act; and remove references to specific titles of regulations, and instead enable references to the titles or provisions of regulations to be prescribed by regulations under the Act.

Committee Referrals

Senate Rural and Regional Affairs and Transport Legislation Committee

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

No votes yet.

No votes were recorded for this bill.