| Long Title |
The purpose of this Bill is to, as complementary legislation, enable Western Australia to retain a balance between Australia-wide consistency and the State’s flexibility to deal with its unique regional differences. The Bill essentially mirrors the gas pipelines access legislation being enacted in other jurisdictions. It has, however, specific provisions to implement the Western Australian derogations and transitional arrangements agreed in-principle in November 1997 between all States, territories and the Commonwealth. The Bill includes the provisions that -
make the gas pipelines access law a law of Western Australia; provide for regulations to be made for the purpose of that law; establish the Western Australian independent Gas Pipelines Access Regulator, Gas Review Board and Gas Disputes Arbitrator; make consequential amendments to certain Acts which would otherwise be inconsistent or alter the effect, scope or operation of the Bill; provide for transitional arrangements in Western Australia; and
give legal effect in this State to the National Third Party Access Code for natural gas pipeline systems. This regime is commonly referred to in the industry as the National Access Code or simply The Code. |