NSW Fines or Jail for Stealing From, Damaging, or Running Pipelines Illegally

Energy Amendment (Pipelines and Gas Safety) Bill 2024

6 May 2025: Passed by Parliament and signed off by the governor.

This bill kicks in: TBA

Legislative Council

Legislative Assembly

Assent

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Topics

criminal liability criminal penalties energy infrastructure gas infrastructure inspector powers land access pipeline infrastructure pipeline safety public safety

Introduced by: The Hon Jihad Dib MP (ALP); The Hon Penny Sharpe MLC (ALP)

Links to official parliament websites

Official page: progress through parliament

Official page: bill text and explanatory notes

Effects of this bill

If this bill passes, it means that:

Inspectors can enter land at any reasonable time to carry out pipeline functions.
Inspectors can order people to leave a place or ban them from entering; this is to investigate hazardous events, check gas supply compliance, or to keep people safe.
It is a criminal offence to block or hinder an inspector performing pipeline duties.
It is a criminal offence to pretend to be a pipeline inspector.
People who steal substances from a pipeline can be fined or face up to 5 years jail. Corporations can be fined up to 2,000 penalty units (2026: $220,000).
People who damage or interfere with a pipeline can be fined or face up to 5 years jail. Corporations can be fined up to 10,000 penalty units (2026: $1,100,000).
People who damage gas works or interfere with a network operator's gas works can be fined or face up to 5 years jail. Corporations can be fined up to 10,000 penalty units (2026: $1,100,000).
People who build or operate pipelines illegally can be fined up to 2,000 penalty units (2026: $220,000). Corporations can be fined up to 10,000 penalty units (2026: $1,100,000).
People who fail to tell the licensee as soon as possible that they damaged a pipeline can be fined up to 1,000 penalty units (2026: $110,000). Corporations can be fined up to 5,000 penalty units (2026: $550,000).
People who intentionally put false information in the pipeline register or produce fake register documents can be fined or face up to 2 years jail. Corporations can be fined up to 2,000 penalty units (2026: $220,000).
People who refuse to give information or answer questions from inspectors can be fined up to 1,000 penalty units (2026: $110,000), provided they were warned it was a requirement. Corporations can be fined up to 5,000 penalty units (2026: $550,000).

The Debate

What different members said when this bill was debated:

James Griffin LIB

“I speak on behalf of the Opposition in debate on the Energy Amendment (Pipelines and Gas Safety) Bill 2024 and thank the Parliamentary Secretary for a comprehensive explanation of the bill.”

Official source →

Edmond Atalla ALP

“I speak in support of the Energy Amendment (Pipelines and Gas Safety) Bill 2024. The bill will modernise and strengthen the regulatory framework governing gas supply and pipeline infrastructure in New South Wales. The Government’s review of the Pipelines Act 1967 and the Gas Supply Act 1996 revealed key areas where the current regulatory framework needs to be improved.”

Official source →

Trish Doyle ALP

“In particular, and as always, I thank the member for Manly for supporting the bill on behalf of the Opposition, and the member for Mount Druitt. This bill is about ensuring the New South Wales gas network is safe. I once again acknowledge the devastating incident in Whalan last year. The New South Wales energy system and the role of gas within that system is undergoing rapid change.”

Official source →

News articles and press releases

Energy Amendment (Pipelines and Gas Safety) Bill 2024

Ms TRISH DOYLE, Member for Blue Mountains — 2025-03-28

The amendments include expanding government inspection powers to better investigate incidents, enable seizure of materials for comprehensive testing to determine failure causes, and direct actions to ensure network safety and reduce the chance of hazardous incidents happening. This is consistent with powers in other legislation from New South Wales and other jurisdictions. The enhanced investigation powers aim to allow effective and timely investigations to take place in response to gas leak and rupture incidents, such as the devastating explosion in Whalan last year, thereby reducing public safety risks.