Shale Oil Bounty Act 1921

Overview

The Shale Oil Bounty Act 1921 was enacted to amend the Shale Oil Bounty Act 1917, addressing a gap in the legislative framework that required updating the duration of certain provisions related to shale oil bounties. This Act was assented to on 2 September 1921 by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia. The primary objective was to extend the period of eligibility for certain bounties from four to five years, thereby providing a longer timeframe for the benefits to be realised by stakeholders in the shale oil industry. The changes were aimed at ensuring that the legislative provisions remained relevant and effective in supporting the industry, as reflected in the modifications to sections and the schedule of the Principal Act.

Scope and Application

The Shale Oil Bounty Act 1921 applies to entities and individuals engaged in the production and processing of shale oil within the Commonwealth of Australia. The Act is a legislative amendment to the Shale Oil Bounty Act 1917, extending the period of bounty eligibility from four years to five years. The amendment affects the calculation and payment of bounties as outlined in the Principal Act, with specific changes made to the duration of eligibility criteria within the relevant sections and the Schedule. The Act does not explicitly exclude any entities or industries, nor does it set any specific thresholds, but it does implicitly apply to all qualifying shale oil producers within the Commonwealth by virtue of the extended duration of bounty eligibility. The jurisdictional reach of the Act is national, applying across the Commonwealth of Australia, and it is subject to further interpretation and implementation through subordinate instruments as may be necessary.

Key Provisions

The main operative sections of the Shale Oil Bounty Act 1921 (Act) focus on the amendment of the original Shale Oil Bounty Act 1917 (Principal Act). Section 1 provides the short title and citation, referring to the amended act as the Shale Oil Bounty Act 1917-1921. Section 2 amends the duration of the Principal Act from four years to five years, and Section 3 adjusts the specification of the bounty to match the new duration. Section 4 further amends the Schedule to reflect these changes by updating the relevant figures and dates. The obligations imposed by the Act on the parties or entities it governs include the extension of the duration of the Principal Act, which now covers a period of five years instead of four. This means that the provisions and benefits of the Shale Oil Bounty Act are now applicable for an additional year. Furthermore, the amendment ensures that the Schedule is correctly aligned with the new duration, ensuring consistency and accuracy in the implementation of the Act. The Act does not explicitly mention any offences, penalties, or civil/criminal consequences for breach. However, any breach of the amended Act would be subject to the penalties and consequences outlined in the original Principal Act, as amended by this Act. Given the nature of the amendments, which primarily involve changes to duration and figures, it is likely that any breach would result in administrative or procedural penalties, rather than criminal or civil consequences. The specifics of these penalties would depend on the context of the breach and the relevant laws in place at the time.