Our department’s response to Coronavirus (COVID-19)
See Australia.gov.au for whole of Australian Government COVID-19 advice.
- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
- Our contracts
- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
Our online presence
Contact
- Publications
- News
- Policies and initiatives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Artificial intelligence
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian Space Agency
- Boosting innovation and science
- Co-hosting the Square Kilometre Array
- Increasing international collaboration
- Industry growth centres
- Industry Innovation and Science Australia
- National Measurement Institute
- Optical astronomy in Australia
- Participating in the digital economy
- Promoting innovation precincts
- Science in our department
- Science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM)
Energy
Resources
Northern Australia
Trade
Business support
Measurement services
Government to government services
- Regulations and standards
Emissions reduction
Energy
Resources
- Applying to export rough diamonds
- Applying to export uranium and controlled ores
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
- Offshore oil and gas exploration and development
- Offshore petroleum exploration acreage release process
- Regulating offshore oil and gas in Australian Commonwealth waters
- Regulating the Ranger Uranium Mine
- Taxes and royalties on minerals and petroleum
Measurement
Trade
Space industry
Building industry
Business support
- Funding and incentives
Emissions reduction
Industry innovation and science
- Australian Square Kilometre Array Fellowships Programme
- Business Research and Innovation Initiative
- Business-research collaboration
- Collaborating with Asia-Pacific on science, research and innovation
- Collaborating with China on science and research
- Collaborating with India on science and research
- Cooperative research centres
- Enabling international space investment
- Industry 4.0
- Inspiring Australia: Science engagement in Australia
- International research collaboration
- Moon to Mars: opportunities for Australian businesses
- Prime Minister's Prizes for Science
- Research and Development Tax Incentive
- Supporting advanced manufacturing
- Supporting business and innovation
- Supporting space infrastructure growth
- Transitioning Australia’s automotive manufacturing industry
- Venture capital
Resources
- About us
COVID-19
Jobs
Who we are
- Our Ministers
- Our Executive team
- Organisation chart
- Our portfolio agencies
- Overseas engagement
- Anti-Dumping Commission
- Anti-Dumping Review Panel
- Australian Radioactive Waste Agency
- Australian SKA Office
- Australian Space Agency
- Critical Minerals Facilitation Office
- National Measurement Institute
- Office of Innovation and Science Australia
- Office of Northern Australia
- Office of the Chief Economist
- Office of the Chief Scientist
Who we work with
Reporting and accountability
- Annual report
- Assurance and Audit Committee
- Budget statements
- Campaign Certification Statements
- Continuing Order of the Senate
- Corporate plan
- Deregulation agenda
- Freedom of information
- Gifts and benefits register
- Grants reporting
- Information Publication Scheme
- Our contracts
- Privacy impact assessments
- Public interest disclosure
- Senate Order 15: portfolio appointments and vacancies
Our online presence
Contact
- Publications
- News
- Home
- Regulations and standards
- Resources
- Offshore mineral exploration and mining
On this page
Offshore mineral exploration and mining
We regulate mineral activity in Australian waters under the Offshore Minerals Act 1994. Australian waters are the offshore area beyond coastal waters, starting 3 nautical miles from shore.
To explore and mine minerals in Australian waters, you must obtain an Offshore Mineral Licence.
Mineral exploration and mining activities can only happen in Australian waters with approval from the relevant Joint Authority. The responsible federal minister and the relevant state or Northern Territory minister generally make up the Joint Authority.
We, in partnership with the states and the Northern Territory, advise the Joint Authority on awarding exploration licences and other titles. We also work with the states and Northern Territory to regulate industry activities. The relevant state or Northern Territory also performs the functions of the Designated Authority.
The states and territories administer any activity within the first 3 nautical miles of the Australian shoreline.
Minerals
A mineral:
- is defined as a naturally occurring substance or a naturally occurring mixture of substances
- may be in the form of sand, gravel, clay, limestone, rock, evaporates, shale, oil-shale and coal
Minerals do not include oil and gas.
Licences
There are 5 different licences that allow offshore mineral exploration and mining activities.
Exploration Licence
This licence covers the exploration phase of a project and gives exclusive rights to the holder to apply for further approvals to undertake exploration related activities.
Retention Licence
This licence ensures that rights to this area are retained pending a project transiting from the exploration phase to the commercial mining phase.
It allows the licence holder rights to an area:
- where a significant mineral deposit has been found
- which is not commercially viable in the short term
- there is reasonable prospect for development in the longer term
Mining Licence
This licence covers the commercial mining phase of a project, authorising the recovery of minerals from the licence area, subject to further approvals.
Works Licence
This licence authorises associated operations to be carried outside of an exploration, a retention or a mining licence area, such as a jetty.
Special Purpose Consent
This licence authorises scientific investigations, a reconnaissance survey or the collection of a small amount of minerals. It does not give the holder any exclusive rights or any preference to granting other licences over the area. It can be granted for an area already covered by another licence if the applicant has permission from the affected licence holder.
How to apply
The Offshore Minerals Act 1994 - Guideline for Applicants [1.1MB PDF] [1.9MB DOCX] provides information on how to apply for a mineral exploration licence.
Before lodging an application, email offshore.minerals@industry.gov.au to find out more.
You must submit your application to the relevant Joint Authority and lodge it with the Designated Authority.
Fees
The fees to apply for and renew licences are in the Offshore Minerals (Fees) Regulations 2018.
The fees table relates to sections under the Offshore Minerals Act:
- Exploration licences (s56 to apply for standard block, s78 to apply for tender block, s106 for renewals)
- Retention licences (s139 to apply and s163 for renewals)
- Mining licences (s201 to apply for standard block, s222 to apply for tender block, s240 for renewals)
- Works licences (s272 to apply and s292 for renewals)
- Special purposes consents (s319 to apply)
Contact us
Email offshore.minerals@industry.gov.au
Legislation
- Offshore Minerals Act and regulations
- Offshore Minerals (Retention Licence Fees) Act and regulations
- Offshore Minerals (Mining Licence Fees) Act 1981 and regulations
- Offshore Minerals (Registration Fees) Act 1981 and regulations
- Offshore Minerals (Royalty) Act 1981
- Offshore Minerals (Works License Fees) Act 1981 and regulations
See also
Last updated: 8 December 2020
Content ID: 46719