Fines for Doing Restricted Work in International Waters Without Permission or Hiding Marine Genetic Resources
High Seas Biodiversity Bill 2026
Senate
House of Representatives
Assent
Links to official parliament websites
Effects of this bill
If this bill passes, it means that:
The Commonwealth must pay reasonable compensation to people where it is liable.
People cannot carry out controlled activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction without the Minister's authorisation.
People face civil penalties for contravening specific activity provisions.
People commit a strict liability offence if they fail to notify the Minister of material changes in activity utilisation.
People commit an offence if they breach the conditions of a controlled activity authorisation.
People commit an offence if they contravene a special management plan or alternative measure for the area.
People commit an offence if they fail to give a post-collection notice.
People can receive a reasonable amount of money from the Commonwealth if the government is liable to pay them compensation.
People are banned from carrying out controlled activities in areas beyond national jurisdiction unless they are allowed to do so.
The Minister decides if a person can carry out a controlled activity and sets the conditions for it after an environmental impact assessment is finished.
People who carry out controlled activities must follow all conditions of their approval or they face legal penalties.
Entities doing research and development on marine genetic resources or digital sequence information must deposit those resources or information.
People who fail to give a post-collection notice can be fined 60 penalty units.
People who fail to tell the Minister about material changes in how they use resources face a strict liability offence.
People who break rules about regulated databases and repositories can be fined 30 penalty units and face a strict liability offence.