Summary
Amends the Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981 which gives effect to Australia’s obligations under the International Convention Relating to Intervention on the High Seas in Cases of Oil Pollution Casualties, 1969 by enabling the Australian Maritime Safety Authority to intervene in the event of any threat of pollution from a ship in Australian waters or on the high seas. The bill gives effect to national maritime emergency response arrangements agreed between the Commonwealth, State and Northern Territory governments, enabling the Commonwealth to undertake the role of national coordinator and decision-maker in responding to an actual or potential pollution incident. Also makes a technical amendment to the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 to repeal a section redundant as a consequence of the amendments to the Protection of the Sea (Powers of Intervention) Act 1981.