Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 Section 11 Exemption for cruise vessels (9 August 2016)

Administered by Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communications, Sport and the Arts

Legislation au F2016L01308 Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

 

 

Subject - Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012

 Section 11 Exemption for cruise vessels

 

 

The Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 (the CT (RAS) Act) regulates coastal trading by providing for licences to be granted to authorise vessels to engage in coastal trading as defined in section 7 of the CT (RAS) Act.  A vessel is engaged in coastal trading if the vessel, for or in connection with a commercial activity takes on board passengers or cargo and carries the passengers or cargo:

 

  • from a port in a State or Territory to another port in another State or Territory;
  • from a port in a State or Territory to another port in the same State or Territory and continues to carry the passengers and cargo at a port in another State or Territory;
  • from a port in a State or Territory to another port in the same State or Territory (on intra-state voyage) and the vessel is declared by the Minister under section 12 to be subject to the requirements of the CT (RAS) Act.

 

Using a vessel to engage in coastal trading without a licence may lead to a pecuniary penalty for the contravention of a civil penalty provision. 

 

Section 11 of the CT (RAS) Act allows the Minister to direct that the CT (RAS) Act does not apply to a vessel or class of vessels; or a person or class of persons.  An exemption under section 11 may be confined to one or more specific periods or voyages.  The CT (RAS) Act provides that the Minister’s direction to exempt is a legislative instrument.

 

The legislative instrument directs that the CT (RAS) Act does not apply to vessels in excess of 5000 gross tonnes which are:

(a)   capable of a speed of at least 15 knots;

(b)   capable of carrying at least 100 passengers; and

(c)   utilised wholly or primarily for the carriage of passengers between any ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories, except between Victoria and Tasmania.

 

This exemption extends the existing exemption, Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2012L02585, due to expire on 31 December 2017 and continues a longstanding exemption provided under subsection 286(6) of the Navigation Act 1912 (the Navigation Act).

 

This exemption remains unchanged from that provided under the subsection 286(6) of the Navigation Act, which permitted unlicensed vessels to engage in the coastal trade without a licence for the carriage of passengers between ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories (other than between Victoria and Tasmania) on condition that the vessels are in excess of 5000 gross tonnes, used primarily or wholly for the carriage of passengers and capable of carrying at least 100 passengers at speeds in excess of 15 knots.  The exemption has been in place for large cruise liners since 1998 to promote tourism activity.  

 

Consultation with stakeholders was undertaken in a series of Ministerial Roundtable meetings held at Parliament House in Canberra in April 2016 where the extension was requested.

 

The exemption commences on 1 January 2018 and ceases on 31 December 2018. 

 

This exemption extends the current exemption by 1 year to provide certainty for industry in long term planning and positioning of large cruise vessels.

 

The exemption is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislation Act 2003.

 

 

Authority:  Section 11 of the Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012

 

 DC


Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 - Section 11 exemption for cruise vessels

The legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

The Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 (the Act) regulates coastal trading between States and Territories within Australia by requiring the movement of cargo and/or passengers for or in connection with a commercial activity to be conducted by vessels authorised to do so by a licence issued under the Act.

The object of the Act is to provide a regulatory framework for coastal trading in Australia that, inter alia, promotes a viable shipping industry that contributes to the broader Australian economy.

The legislative instrument provides an exemption from the application of the Act, in accordance with Section 11 of the Act, to certain cruise ships.  It prescribes that cruise ships greater than 5000 gross tonnes, capable of a speed greater than 15 knots and able to carry more than 100 passengers are exempt from the Act, provided the ship is utilised wholly or primarily for the carriage of passengers between any ports in the Commonwealth or in the Territories, except between Victoria and Tasmania.  This means that ships of the kind detailed in the instrument are not required to apply for a licence under the Act when engaging in coastal trading.

The purpose of the exemption is to promote tourism activity within Australia, recognising that Australia does not currently have any Australian registered vessels in this category.

The legislative instrument does not make any substantive changes to the law as it extends the existing exemption, Federal Register of Legislative Instruments F2012L02585, due to expire on 31 December 2017 and continues a longstanding exemption provided under subsection 286(6) of the Navigation Act 1912 (the Navigation Act).  The exemption remains unchanged from that provided for under subsection 286(6) of the Navigation Act and, as such, does not engage any of the applicable rights and freedoms.

Human rights implications

This legislative instrument does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms referred to in the seven international Conventions listed in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011, due to the ability of foreign registered vessels being able to participate in Australia’s coastal trade, providing for economic freedom.

Conclusion

The legislative instrument is compatible with human rights as it does not raise any human rights issues.

 

 

Overview

The Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 was enacted to establish a regulatory framework for coastal trading between Australian states and territories, ensuring that the movement of cargo and passengers for commercial purposes is conducted by licensed vessels. The Act aims to foster a viable shipping industry that contributes to the national economy. One significant aspect of the Act is the exemption provided in section 11, which allows the Minister to exempt certain vessels from the licensing requirements of the Act. The purpose of this exemption is to promote tourism by allowing large cruise vessels over 5000 gross tonnes, capable of speeds greater than 15 knots, and capable of carrying more than 100 passengers to operate in coastal trade between Australian ports, except between Victoria and Tasmania, without requiring a licence. This exemption, which extends the existing exemption from the Navigation Act 1912, was introduced to provide certainty for the industry in long-term planning and positioning of large cruise vessels. The exemption is intended to encourage tourism activity within Australia, acknowledging the absence of Australian-registered vessels in this category. The exemption is a legislative instrument under the Legislation Act 2003 and is compatible with human rights, as it does not engage any of the rights or freedoms under the international conventions listed in the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Scope and Application

The Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 regulates coastal trading activities within Australia, requiring vessels to obtain a licence to carry passengers or cargo between ports in different states or territories, or within the same state or territory if they continue to another state or territory. The Act aims to foster a viable shipping industry, thereby contributing to the broader Australian economy. However, Section 11 of the Act allows the Minister to exempt certain vessels from these licensing requirements. Specifically, the Act exempts vessels exceeding 5000 gross tonnes, capable of a speed of at least 15 knots, and designed to carry at least 100 passengers if they are used primarily for passenger transport between any ports within the Commonwealth or in the Territories, except between Victoria and Tasmania. This exemption is intended to promote tourism within Australia. The exemption extends a longstanding provision previously contained in the Navigation Act 1912, continuing the policy of exempting large cruise vessels from the need to obtain a coastal trading licence. This exemption was extended for one year from 1 January 2018 to 31 December 2018, providing certainty for industry planning and positioning of large cruise vessels.

Key Provisions

The Coastal Trading (Revitalising Australian Shipping) Act 2012 (CT (RAS) Act) sets the framework for coastal trading in Australia, which includes the transportation of passengers or cargo from one port to another within Australia, or between Australian ports and ports in the same state or territory but continuing to another state or territory. To conduct such trading, a vessel must be licensed under the Act, as per section 7. However, section 11 provides an exemption from the need for a licence for certain vessels, specifically those that exceed 5000 gross tonnes, are capable of a speed of at least 15 knots, can carry at least 100 passengers, and are used primarily for passenger carriage between ports in Australia or the territories, excluding those between Victoria and Tasmania. This exemption is intended to promote tourism and aligns with the existing exemption under the Navigation Act 1912, which has been in effect since 1998. The obligations under the Act for those involved in coastal trading include ensuring that vessels used for such trading are appropriately licensed, unless they fall under the exemption detailed in section 11. For exempted vessels, there is no requirement to apply for a licence, provided they meet the specified criteria. The Act also mandates that any contravention of its provisions, such as using an unlicensed vessel for coastal trading, may result in civil penalties. The exemption under section 11 is a legislative instrument and is subject to the provisions of the Legislation Act 2003. Breaching the provisions of the CT (RAS) Act, such as operating a vessel for coastal trading without the requisite licence, can lead to civil penalties as outlined in the Act. While the specific penalties are not detailed in the explanatory statement, it is implied that there are financial repercussions for non-compliance. The exemption under section 11 is designed to maintain the status quo without imposing new obligations or penalties on the exempted vessels, as it extends an existing exemption. The legislative instrument does not introduce new offences or increase penalties but rather clarifies the conditions under which certain vessels can operate without a licence.

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Area of Law
Maritime Law
Instrument
Legislative Instrument
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Licensing & Registration
Exemptions & Exclusions
Regulatory Standards

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.