Joint Authorities

Key functions

The Joint Authorities have the power to make certain decisions under the Offshore Petroleum Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (OPGGSA). Key functions and powers of Joint Authorities include:

• release of offshore petroleum exploration areas
• decisions relating to bids for these areas
• grant/refusal of offshore petroleum titles
• variation of title conditions
• suspension and extension to title terms
• surrender and cancellation of titles
• resource management (Declaration of Location, Rates of Recovery, Field Development Plans, initial and variations).

In the case of greenhouse gas titles, the decision maker is the responsible Commonwealth Minister.

Membership

The Joint Authority for each state and the Northern Territory comprises the responsible Commonwealth Minister (currently the Minister for Resources and Northern Australia) and the relevant state or Northern Territory minister.

The Joint Authority arrangements for the following offshore areas comprises the responsible Commonwealth Minister:

• Tasmania
• Eastern Greater Sunrise
• Offshore areas of external territories (e.g. the Territory of Ashmore and Cartier Islands).

Delegations

The Joint Authorities may delegate any or all of their functions and powers to appropriate Commonwealth and state/NT department officials. Delegations will be subject to the following conditions:

• Joint Authority ministers have the opportunity to issue media statements when important decisions are made, such as the award of offshore petroleum titles
• Any contentious or strategic issues be referred to ministers (such as decisions that deviate from approved policy or well established precedents, or where there is a difference of opinion between Commonwealth and state/NT officials)
• Departments are to report regularly to their respective minister on decisions envisaged in a coming period and also report back on delegated decisions taken during the previous period, and undertake to provide timely advice on issues arising from delegated decisions that might affect ministerial accountability.

The responsible Commonwealth Minister has delegated his functions and powers to the General Manager, Offshore Resources Branch, Resources Division, Department of Industry, Science, Energy and Resources.