The levies were instigated in January 2012 to provide funding for the administration of safety regulation for the petroleum industry and geothermal energy operations. 

On 1 January 2012, cost recovery commenced for safety regulation of the petroleum industry and geothermal energy operations. Following industry requests for greater alignment between State and Commonwealth legislation, the approach selected was based on cost recovery levies used for offshore petroleum by the National Offshore Petroleum Safety Authority (NOPSA) – now the National Offshore Petroleum Safety and Environment Management Authority (NOPSEMA).

The Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 provides for the Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Regulations 2011 to impose levies for regulatory services rendered in relation to listed occupational safety and health laws under the:

Work Health and Safety Act 2020

Work Health and Safety (Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Operations) Regulations 2022

The levies are payable to the Department of Mines Industry Regulation and Safety.

The Petroleum and Geothermal Energy Safety Levies Act 2011 and related legislation can be viewed, downloaded or purchased in hard copy from the Department of Justice at www.legislation.wa.gov.au .

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