Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Regulations (Amendment)

Overview

The Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983 No. 60, issued by the Authority of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, was enacted in 1983 to amend the Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Act 1980. This legislation was introduced to address the need to temporarily increase the number of retail marketing sites that prescribed corporations could operate, as well as to defer the implementation of certain quotas. The primary aim of these amendments was to provide flexibility in the short term to better manage the market dynamics in the petroleum retail sector during a specific transitional period. The enacting body responsible for this amendment is the Australian Parliament, acting through the Minister for Industry and Commerce. The policy objective outlined in the explanatory statement is to adjust the operational parameters for prescribed corporations within the petroleum retail marketing sector temporarily, thereby facilitating a smoother transition before fully implementing the quota system as originally scheduled.

Scope and Application

The Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983 No. 60 applies to prescribed corporations involved in the operation of petroleum retail marketing sites within Australia. These regulations amend the Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Act 1980 by increasing the allowable number of sites a prescribed corporation can operate during the specified period from 19 May 1983 to 31 December 1983, and by deferring the implementation of the existing quotas until 1 January 1984. The amendments are aimed at providing temporary relief to prescribed corporations regarding the operational limits and quotas that apply to their retail marketing sites. This amendment is effective across the Commonwealth and applies specifically to the entities and sites defined under the Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Act 1980. The regulations do not explicitly state any exclusions or exemptions, but they operate within the jurisdictional framework set by the overarching Act, potentially extending or restricting application through subordinate instruments.

Key Provisions

The Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Regulations (Amendment) Statutory Rules 1983 No. 60, issued under the authority of the Minister for Industry and Commerce, primarily target the amendment of the Schedule to the Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Act 1980 (section 1). This amendment increases the number of sites a prescribed corporation may operate during the period from 19 May 1983 to 31 December 1983 (section 2). Additionally, it defers the implementation of the quotas applicable under the Schedule to 1 January 1984 (section 3). These amendments aim to provide temporary relief to prescribed corporations by allowing them to operate more sites and by delaying the enforcement of existing quotas. Under the amended regulations, prescribed corporations are granted flexibility in operating more sites during the specified period, which may aid in managing supply and demand dynamics in the market (section 2). The obligation on these corporations is to adhere to the new site limits set forth by the amended regulations, ensuring they do not exceed the allowed number of sites during the transitional period (section 2). Furthermore, these corporations must also ensure compliance with the deferred quota implementation date, meaning that they must adjust their operations to meet the new quotas by 1 January 1984 (section 3). Breaches of the amended regulations may lead to various consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed in the text, the Petroleum Retail Marketing Sites Act 1980 typically includes provisions for fines, administrative actions, and potential revocation of operational licenses for non-compliance (section 4). The exact penalties would depend on the nature and severity of the breach, but the regulations underscore the importance of strict adherence to the stipulated conditions to avoid any legal ramifications.