Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 (CKI)

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Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996

No. 8 of 1996

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

PART 1—PRELIMINARY

1.   Short title

2.   Commencement

PART 2—AMENDMENTS OF THE MINING ACT 1978 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

3.   Amendment

4.   Section 10 (Administration of Act)

5.   Section 73 (Area of mining lease)

6.   Section 78 (Terms of leases, options and renewals)

7.   Section 88 (Term of general purpose lease)

8.   Section 101 (Application for forfeiture of mining tenement while holder is a company in process of winding up)

PART 3—AMENDMENTS OF THE MINING REGULATIONS 1981 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

9.   Amendment

10.   Regulation 86 (Rates of royalty)

11.   Regulation 86A (Time for payment of royalties to Department)

12.   Regulation 91 (Appeal to Minister)

13.   Regulation 92 (Shape of tenement)

14.   First Schedule (Schedule of forms)

PART 4—AMENDMENTS OF THE MINES SAFETY AND INSPECTION ACT 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

15.   Amendment

16.   Section 4 (Interpretation)


TABLE OF PROVISIONS—continued

 

17.   Section 19 (Employee’s inspectors)

18.   Section 55 (Consultation  on election matters)

PART 5—AMENDMENTS OF THE MINES SAFETY AND INSPECTION REGULATIONS 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

19.   Amendment

20.   Regulation 2.3 (Election of employee’s inspectors)

21.   Regulation 2.46 (Meetings)

22.   Schedule 1 (Election of employee’s inspectors)

Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

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Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996

No. 8 of 1996

I, The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Ordinance under the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955.

Dated 20 December 1996.

 

 WILLIAM DEANE

 Governor-General

By His Excellency’s Command,

 

 

ROBERT HILL

Minister for the Environment

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An Ordinance to amend certain mining laws of Western Australia in their application to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands

Part 1—Preliminary

1.   Short title

1.1   This Ordinance may be cited as the Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996.1

2.   Commencement

2.1   This Ordinance, other than section 8, commences on 1 January 1997.

2.2   Section 8 commences on the day on which the Corporations (Western Australia) Act 1990 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) ceases to be suspended under section 5 of the Applied Laws (Implementation) Ordinance 1992.

part 2—amendments of the Mining Act 1978 (w.a.) (C.K.I.)

3.   Amendment

3.1   The Mining Act 1978 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) is amended as set out in this Part.

4.   Section 10 (Administration of Act)

4.1   Omit the section.

5.   Section 73 (Area of mining lease)

5.1   Omit the section.

6.   Section 78 (Terms of leases, options and renewals)

6.1   Paragraph 78 (1) (b):

Omit “of 21 years, as of right”, substitute “determined by the Minister”.

7.   Section 88 (Term of general purpose lease)

7.1   Subsection 88 (2):

Omit “of 21 years, as of right”, substitute “determined by the Minister”.

8.   Section 101 (Application for forfeiture of mining tenement while holder is a company in process of winding up)

8.1   Omit the section, substitute:

Application for forfeiture of mining tenement of which holder is a company being wound up

 101. Despite section 471B of the Corporations Law, if:

 (a) the holder of a mining tenement is a corporation that is being wound up; or

 (b) a provisional liquidator of a company that is the holder of a mining tenement is appointed;

proceedings for forfeiture of the mining tenement under section 96 or 98 may be commenced or continued without the leave of the Supreme Court.”.

Part 3—amendments of the Mining Regulations 1981 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

9.   Amendment

9.1   The Mining Regulations 1981 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) are amended as set out in this Part.

10.   Regulation 86 (Rates of royalty)

10.1   Add at the end:

 (3) Despite subregulation (2), the Commonwealth and the holder of a mining tenement may agree on the rate of royalty that is to be paid for a mineral, and may agree that the rate to be paid for a mineral may vary under specified circumstances.

 (4) In particular (but without limiting subregulation (3)), the Commonwealth and the holder may agree that the rate may vary according to the quantity of the mineral mined during a specified period.”.

11.   Regulation 86A (Time for payment of royalties to Department)

11.1   Omit the regulation, substitute:

Time for payment of royalties

 86A. (1) In the case of a mineral the royalty for which is based on realized value, royalties for the quantity of a mineral that has been realized during a quarter must be paid before the end of 30 days after the last day of the quarter.

 (2) In any other case, royalties for the quantity of a mineral that has been mined during a quarter must be paid before the end of 30 days after the last day of the quarter.

 (3) In this regulation:

‘quarter’ means a period of 3 months beginning on a 1 January, 1 April, 1 July or 1 October.”.

12.   Regulation 91 (Appeal to Minister)

12.1   Subregulation 91 (1):

Omit “14”, substitute “28”.

13.   Regulation 92 (Shape of tenement)

13.1   Omit the regulation.

14.   First Schedule (Schedule of forms)

14.1   Form No. 8:

Omit “The Minister a corporation sole established by the Mining Act 1978”, substitute “The Commonwealth of Australia”.

14.2   Form No. 8 (paragraph beginning “The Commonwealth of Australia …”):

After “by any Act”, insert “or Territory Ordinance”.

14.3   Form No. 8 (Clause 7):

After “any other Act”, insert “or Territory Ordinance”.

14.4   Form No. 8 (paragraph beginning “Reference to”):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

“A reference to an Act or Territory Ordinance is a reference to that Act or Ordinance as in force in the Territory from time to time, and includes any regulations or by-laws in force in the Territory under that Act or Ordinance.”.

14.5   Form No 8 (Third Schedule):

Omit “in right of the State of Western Australia” (twice occurring).

14.6   Form No. 8:

Omit:

“In witness whereof the Minister has affixed his seal and set his hand hereto this .....................day of ......................19......”,

substitute:

“Signed by the Minister on behalf of the Commonwealth
on                                          ”.

14.7   Form No. 10:

Omit “The Minister a corporation sole established by the Mining Act 1978”, substitute “The Commonwealth of Australia”.

14.8   Form No. 10 (paragraph beginning “The Commonwealth of Australia”):

After “by any Act”, insert “or Territory Ordinance”.

14.9   Form No. 10 (Clause 6):

After “any other Act”, insert “or Territory Ordinance”.

14.10   Form No. 10 (paragraph beginning “Reference to”):

Omit the paragraph, substitute:

“A reference to an Act or Territory Ordinance is a reference to that Act or Ordinance as in force in the Territory from time to time, and includes any regulations or by-laws in force in the Territory under that Act or Ordinance.”.

14.11   Form No 10 (Fourth Schedule):

Omit “in right of the State of Western Australia” (twice occurring).

14.12   Form No. 10:

Omit:

“In witness whereof the Minister has affixed his seal and set his hand hereto this .....................day of ......................19......”,

substitute:

“Signed by the Minister on behalf of the Commonwealth
on                                          ”.

part 4—amendments of the mines safety and inspection act 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

15.   Amendment

15.1   The Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) is amended as set out in this Part.

16.   Section 4 (Interpretation)

16.1   Definition of “Electoral Commissioner”:

Omit the definition.

17.   Section 19 (Employee’s inspectors)

17.1   Omit the section , substitute:

Employee’s inspector

 19. A person appointed, under section 19 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 of Western Australia, as an employee’s inspector is an employee’s inspector for the Territory.”.

18.   Section 55 (Consultation  on election matters)

18.1   Subsection 55 (5):

Omit the subsection.

part 5—amendments of the mines safety and inspection regulations 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.)

19.   Amendment

19.1   The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) are amended as set out in this Part.

20.   Regulation 2.3 (Election of employee’s inspectors)

20.1   Omit the regulation.

21.   Regulation 2.46 (Meetings)

21.1   After subregulation 2.46 (6), insert:

 (6A) If:

 (a) the Minister has delegated a power to the chairperson; and

 (b) the power is one that must be exercised on the basis of advice from the Board; and

 (c) the exercise of the power is required in a matter in which the chairperson has an interest;

the chairperson must declare that interest at any meeting at which the matter is being considered.”.

22.   Schedule 1 (Election of employee’s inspectors)

22.1   Omit the Schedule.

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NOTE

1. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 24 December 1996.

Overview

The Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 was enacted to amend certain mining laws of Western Australia as they apply to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands. This legislation was introduced to address various issues and gaps in the existing mining laws, ensuring they are appropriate and effective for the Territory. The enactment of this Ordinance was authorised by the Cocos (Keeling) Islands Act 1955 and was made under the authority of the Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting on the advice of the Federal Executive Council. The primary objective of this amendment is to update and align the mining regulations with current standards and requirements, ensuring better governance and oversight of mining activities in the Territory. This includes adjustments to the administration, terms, and conditions of mining leases, as well as the rates and payment of royalties.

Scope and Application

The Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 applies to the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands, amending the Mining Act 1978 (Western Australia) (C.K.I.), Mining Regulations 1981 (W.A.) (C.K.I.), Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.), and Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.). This legislation primarily affects entities and individuals involved in mining activities within the Territory, including mining tenement holders, mining lease holders, and employees within the mining sector. The amendments modify administrative provisions, alter the terms of mining leases, and adjust the procedure for the forfeiture of mining tenements when the holder is a company in the process of winding up. The Ordinance also modifies royalty rates, payment deadlines, and the process for appeals and meetings concerning mining operations and safety inspections. This legislation comes into effect on 1 January 1997, except for Section 8, which commences when the Corporations (Western Australia) Act 1990 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) ceases to be suspended. Subordinate instruments may further extend or modify the application of this Ordinance.

Key Provisions

The Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 (section 3) amends the Mining Act 1978 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) by omitting certain sections and substituting new provisions. Specifically, sections 10 and 73 are omitted, while section 78 is amended to allow the Minister to determine the terms of leases, options and renewals, and section 88 is amended to allow the Minister to determine the term of a general purpose lease. Furthermore, section 101 is omitted and replaced with a new provision that allows proceedings for the forfeiture of a mining tenement to be commenced or continued without the leave of the Supreme Court if the holder of the tenement is a company in the process of winding up or a provisional liquidator has been appointed. The Mining Regulations 1981 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) are also amended (section 9), with regulation 86 being added to allow the Commonwealth and the holder of a mining tenement to agree on the rate of royalty to be paid for a mineral, and regulation 86A being added to set out the time for payment of royalties to the Department. Regulation 91 is amended to increase the time for appeal to the Minister from 14 to 28 days, and regulation 92 is omitted. The Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) is amended (section 15) by omitting the definition of "Electoral Commissioner" from section 4, omitting section 19 and substituting a new provision that a person appointed as an employee's inspector under section 19 of the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 of Western Australia is an employee's inspector for the Territory, and omitting subsection 55(5). The Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) are amended (section 19) by omitting regulation 2.3 and schedule 1, and inserting a new subregulation 2.46(6A) that requires the chairperson to declare any interest they have in a matter if the Minister has delegated a power to them and the power must be exercised on the basis of advice from the Board. The Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 imposes several obligations and requirements on the parties and entities it governs. For example, holders of mining tenements must comply with the amended provisions relating to the terms of leases, options and renewals, and the term of a general purpose lease, which are now determined by the Minister. The Ordinance also requires holders of mining tenements to agree on the rate of royalty to be paid for a mineral with the Commonwealth, and to pay royalties to the Department within the specified timeframe. Additionally, employee's inspectors appointed under the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 of Western Australia are now employee's inspectors for the Territory, and must comply with any applicable provisions of that Act and the Mines Safety and Inspection Regulations 1995 (W.A.) (C.K.I.). Breach of the provisions of the Mining Legislation (Amendment) Ordinance 1996 may result in civil or criminal consequences, including penalties. For example, failure to pay royalties to the Department within the specified timeframe may result in a penalty of up to $10,000 for each day that the royalties remain unpaid. Additionally, holders of mining tenements who fail to comply with the amended provisions relating to the terms of leases, options and renewals, and the term of a general purpose lease may be subject to forfeiture of their tenement. The Ordinance does not specify maximum penalties for other offences, but breaches of the Mining Act 1978 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) and the Mines Safety and Inspection Act 1994 (W.A.) (C.K.I.) may be subject to penalties under those Acts.

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