Mineral Resources and Other Legislation (Extension of Waiver Provisions—COVID-19) Amendment Regulation 2020

1Short title

This regulation may be cited as the Mineral Resources and Other Legislation (Extension of Waiver Provisions—COVID-19) Amendment Regulation 2020.

2Commencement

This regulation is taken to have commenced on 1 October 2020.

3Regulation amended

This part amends the Mineral Resources Regulation 2013.

4Insertion of new s 98A

After section 98—
insert—

98AMoratorium on rental payable for exploration permits for COVID-19 emergency

(1)This section applies in relation to rental payable under section 138 of the Act, for a year, for an exploration permit, if the rental is payable during the moratorium period.

(2)For section 138(4) of the Act, the amount prescribed for the year is 0.

(3)Subsection (2) applies—

(a)despite section 98; and

(b)whether or not the year starts during the moratorium period.

(4)This section expires on 31 March 2021.

(5)In this section—

moratorium period means the period—

(a)starting on 1 October 2020; and

(b)ending on 31 March 2021.

year, for an exploration permit, means a period of 1 year starting, in each year, on the day the exploration permit is granted.

5Regulation amended

This part amends the Petroleum and Gas (General Provisions) Regulation 2017.

6Insertion of new s 64A

After section 64—
insert—

64AWaived special amendment fees for COVID-19 emergency

(1)This section applies in relation to a special amendment fee that is payable by a person during the waiver period.

(2)Payment of the fee is waived for the person.

(3)Subsection (2) applies despite section 64.

(4)This section expires on 31 March 2021.

(5)In this section—

special amendment fee means the fee mentioned in schedule 2, part 1, item 7.

waiver period means the period—

(a)starting on 1 October 2020; and

(b)ending on 31 March 2021.

7Insertion of new s 65A

After section 65—
insert—

65AMoratorium on annual rent payable for authorities to prospect for COVID-19 emergency

(1)Subsection (2) applies in relation to annual rent payable under the 2004 Act, section 75 for an authority to prospect if the rent is payable during the moratorium period.

(2)For the 2004 Act, section 75(1)(b), the amount of annual rent payable is 0.

(3)Subsection (4) applies in relation to annual rent payable under the 1923 Act, section 74N for an authority to prospect if the rent is payable during the moratorium period.

(4)For the 1923 Act, section 74N(1)(b), the amount of annual rent payable is 0.

(5)Subsections (2) and (4) apply despite section 65.

(6)This section expires on 31 March 2021.

(7)In this section—

moratorium period means the period—

(a)starting on 1 October 2020; and

(b)ending on 31 March 2021.