Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment 2021

# Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage (Regulatory Levies) Amendment 2021 ## What it does This law updates how the government charges fees to companies that operate offshore oil and gas facilities and carbon storage projects in Australian waters. It changes who pays these regulatory levies and how they're calculated, particularly when safety rules ("remedial directions") are issued to operators. ## Why it matters Oil and gas companies operating offshore will face potentially different fees under this new system. The changes affect how much companies pay to comply with safety and environmental regulations, which could flow through to energy costs or company profitability. ## Key details - **Who pays**: The bill clarifies that safety case levies (annual fees for operating offshore facilities) are charged to whoever holds the safety case—essentially the company responsible for the facility's safety. - **When it starts**: The changes take effect from the day after the law receives Royal Assent (the Governor-General's signature), but only if a related bill about title administration also passes parliament. - **What triggers it**: Levies apply whenever a safety case is active during a year and the facility is in Commonwealth waters (beyond state jurisdiction). New definitions were added to cover "remedial directions"—formal orders the regulator issues when something goes wrong.

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