Petroleum titles objections and disputes

This page has information on the process followed for objections to granting petroleum titles or disputes resulting from exploration or production activities.

Submissions and objections

The minister must publish a notice in the newspaper and online before releasing blocks for exploration.

The notice must invite applications for the grant of an exploration permit, and submissions about the release of the specified blocks within the application period set out in the notice.

Anyone can make a submission about the release of blocks, but the content of submissions is limited to whether:

• petroleum exploration can coexist with current or proposed industries
• the land of a specified block is suitable to petroleum exploration.

A submission can suggest that the proposed blocks of land are not suitable for exploration because the land is:

• subject to intensive agriculture
• of high ecological value
• of high scenic value
• culturally significant
• of strategic importance to nearby residential areas.

The minister must consider all submissions and any applications received before deciding which blocks to release for exploration.

After a decision is made

Once the decision is made, the minister must publish the decision and the reasons why the blocks are appropriate for exploration online.

The minister must then publish a notice in the newspaper outlining details of an exploration permit application and inviting written objections to the grant of the permit within 2 months of publication.

Anyone may submit an objection to the grant of an exploration permit.

All objections must be provided to the applicant, and published online as soon as possible after they are received. Applicants may provide the minister with additional information in response to any objections.

The minister must consider any objections and responses from the applicant when making the decision to grant or refuse to grant an exploration permit.

Petroleum titles

The Petroleum Act 1984, identifies a number of decisions made under the Act are reviewable decisions, and sets out who an interested person is for each decision.

An interested person can apply to the tribunal for review of a reviewable decision, such as:

• a decision to release blocks
• grant of an exploration permit
• refusal of an application to transfer a title.

The tribunal reviews the merits of the decision that has been made and determines a correct and preferable decision.

It might:

• confirm the decision
• vary the decision
• make a new decision
• refer the decision back to the decision-maker for reconsideration.

How to apply to NTCAT

Applications to Northern Territory Civil and Administrative Tribunal (NTCAT) should be made using the tribunal's form 3 ordinary application, along with the required fee.

Get the form and information about fees on the NTCAT website.