Lighthouses Act 1911
Act No. 14 of 1911 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 23 October 2001
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 143 of 2001
The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting,
Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
Part I—Preliminary
1 Short title [see Note 1]
2 Commencement [see Note 1]
3 Interpretation
4 Application to Territories
4A Application of the Criminal Code
Part II—Marine Navigational Aids
5 Acquisition of lighthouses etc.
6 Transfer of lighthouses etc. to be valid and effectual
6A Acquisition of lighthouses by compulsory process
7 Power to establish and maintain lighthouses etc.
8 Powers of inspection and maintenance
10 Powers in relation to lights and navigational aid
11 Returns of harbour light and navigational aid
12 Protection from actions
Part IV—Offences
19 Injuring lighthouses etc.
19A Damage to be made good
19B Notice of damage to be given
Part V—Regulations
20 Regulations fixing light dues
Notes
An Act relating to Lighthouses, Lightships, Beacons, Buoys and other Marine Navigational Aids
This Act may be cited as the Lighthouses Act 1911.
This Act shall commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.
In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears:
Authority means the Australian Maritime Safety Authority established by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990.
Marine navigational aid means:
(a) a lighthouse, lightship, beacon or buoy; or
(b) any other structure, mark, device or apparatus that is an aid to marine navigation, including a radio beacon or an electronic aid, but not including any device or apparatus used, or for use, on a ship, not being a lightship.
Ship includes every description of vessel used in navigation not ordinarily propelled by oars only.
the Safety Convention has the same meaning as in Part IV of the Navigation Act 1912.
(1) This Act extends to:
(c) the Territory of Cocos (Keeling) Islands;
(d) the Coral Sea Islands Territory; and
(e) any other Territory not forming part of the Commonwealth to which the Governor-General by Proclamation declares that this Act shall extend.
4A Application of the Criminal Code
Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences created by this Act.
Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
5 Acquisition of lighthouses etc.
(1) The Commonwealth may enter into an agreement with a State, or with any person, for the acquisition by the Commonwealth of any marine navigational aid the property of that State or person.
(2) For the purposes of this Act, any marine navigational aid vested in any authority of a State shall be deemed to be the property of the State.
(3) The Commonwealth may purchase from any State or person any lighthouse tender, store vessel, stores or equipment or other property used by it or him in connexion with any marine navigational aid.
6 Transfer of lighthouses etc. to be valid and effectual
Where the Governor-General has entered into an agreement with a State, or with any person, for the acquisition by the Commonwealth of any marine navigational aid, any instrument or assurance for granting or transferring the marine navigational aid to the Commonwealth accordingly shall, by virtue of this Act, and notwithstanding anything in the law of the State, be valid and effectual to vest the marine navigational aid in the Commonwealth according to the tenor thereof.
6A Acquisition of lighthouses by compulsory process
(1) Where the Commonwealth has failed to enter into an agreement with a State for the acquisition of any particular marine navigational aid the property of that State, the Commonwealth may acquire by compulsory process the marine navigational aid together with any lighthouse tender, store vessel, stores or equipment or other property used by it or him in connexion with the marine navigational aid, and so much of the land reserved dedicated set apart or used for the purpose of the marine navigational aid as the Governor-General thinks sufficient.
(2) For the purposes of this section, any marine navigational aid vested in any authority of a State shall be deemed to be the property of the State.
(3) The provisions of the Lands Acquisition Act 1989 in relation to the acquisition of interests in land by compulsory process and to the determination of the amount of compensation payable in respect of interests so acquired shall so far as applicable apply in relation to the acquisition of any marine navigational aid under this section.
(4) The mode of compensation to the State in respect of each marine navigational aid acquired under this section shall be the payment in perpetuity of interest at the rate of three and one-half per centum per annum on the amount of compensation so determined in respect of the marine navigational aid so acquired.
(5) The interest payable in pursuance of this section shall be payable as from the date of the acquisition of the marine navigational aid, and shall be paid annually or at such shorter periods as the Minister for Finance thinks fit.
(6) All payments to be made in pursuance of this section shall be payable out of moneys from time to time appropriated by the Parliament for the purpose.
(7) In this section, other than subsection (1), the words marine navigational aid, include any lighthouse tender, store vessel, stores, equipment or other property, or land, acquired by the Commonwealth under subsection (1) of this section.
7 Power to establish and maintain lighthouses etc.
The Authority may:
(a) establish and maintain lighthouses, lightships, beacons or buoys and, for the purpose of giving effect to the undertaking of the Commonwealth under Regulation 14 of Chapter V of the Safety Convention, establish and maintain other marine navigational aids;
(b) add to, alter or remove any marine navigational aid the property of, or under the control of, the Authority; and
(c) vary the character of any marine navigational aid the property of, or under the control of, the Authority.
8 Powers of inspection and maintenance
(1) The Authority or a person authorised in writing by the Authority may, at any reasonable time in the day or night:
(a) inspect any marine navigational aid, lamp or light which, in the opinion of the Authority or authorised person, may affect the safety or convenience of navigation, whether the marine navigational aid, lamp or light is the property of a State or authority of a State or of any private person, and for that purpose may enter upon any property, whether of a public or private nature; and
(b) for any purpose in connexion with the maintenance of a marine navigational aid which is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority or in connexion with the establishment of any marine navigational aid by the Authority, transport, or cause to be transported, any goods through any property whether of a public or private nature.
10 Powers in relation to lights and navigational aid
(1) The Authority may, by notice in writing, whenever in its opinion it is desirable for the safety or convenience of navigation so to do, require the owner of any marine navigational aid or of any lamp or light:
(a) to remove it entirely or to some other position; or
(b) to modify it or to alter its character to such an extent and in such manner as the Authority directs; or
(c) to refrain from lighting the lamp either entirely or for such period as the Authority directs; or
(d) to cease from exhibiting the light either entirely or for such period as the Authority directs.
(2) It shall be the duty of the owner to comply with any notice served upon him in pursuance of this section.
(3) If the notice is not complied with, the Authority may take possession of the marine navigational aid or of the lamp or light referred to in the notice, and may order it to be forfeited, or may do in regard to it, at the expense of the owner, anything which the owner was required by the notice to do.
(4) Any expense incurred by the Authority under this section may be recovered by the Authority from the owner, as a debt due by the owner to the Authority.
(5) No person shall fail to comply with a notice under this section.
Penalty: One hundred dollars.
(5A) Subsection (5) does not apply if the person has reasonable cause.
Note: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in subsection (5A) (see section 13.4 of the Criminal Code).
(5B) An offence under subsection (5) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
(6) In this section owner includes a State Government and any authority of a State having the control or management of any marine navigational aid or of any lamp or light:
Provided that nothing in this section shall render a State Government or any authority of a State liable to a pecuniary penalty under subsection (5).
11 Returns of harbour light and navigational aid
Every harbour authority or other local authority having control of any harbour lights or the lighting or marking of any navigable waters shall, as prescribed, make returns to the Minister in relation to the following matters:
(a) the description and situation of each light under its control; and
(b) the description and situation of each marine navigational aid under its control.
An action or other civil proceeding shall not be maintainable against the Authority, a member of the Authority, the Minister or any officer of the Authority or the Commonwealth, by reason of any act, default, error, or omission, whether negligent or otherwise in relation to, or by reason of any defect in, a marine navigational aid established or maintained by the Authority.
(1) A person commits an offence if the person does an act and the person intends or is negligent as to whether the act will result in:
(a) injury, destruction, running foul of, or damage to:
(i) any marine navigational aid that is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority; or
(ii) any light exhibited on any such marine navigational aid; or
(iii) any ship, vessel, stores, equipment, or other property used by the Authority in connection with the establishment, maintenance or servicing of marine navigational aids; or
(b) obstruction of the view of any lighthouse, lightship, beacon or buoy that is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority, in such a manner as to lessen its efficiency; or
(c) interference with the operation of, or the use by a person of, a marine navigational aid that is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority so as to hinder its effective operation or use.
Penalty: $200.
(1A) A person commits an offence if the person does an act and the act results in the removal, altering, riding by or making fast of any marine navigational aid that is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority.
Penalty: $200.
(1B) A person commits an offence if the person trespasses or goes upon:
(a) any marine navigational aid that is the property of, or under the control of, the Authority; or
(b) any ship, vessel, or property used by the Authority in the establishment, maintenance or servicing of marine navigational aids.
Penalty: $200.
(2) In addition to the penalty, any offender may be ordered to pay the amount of the damage caused by the commission of the offence, or the cost of repairing, replacing, or reinstating the marine navigational aid.
(3) Where any damage to any marine navigational aid the property of, or under the control of, the Authority is caused by any ship, the damage shall be charged on the ship, and the ship may be detained by any officer of Customs until the amount of the damage is paid.
If any marine navigational aid the property of the Authority is damaged or destroyed by any person or ship, the person, or the master, owner, agent or charterer of the ship, as the case may be, shall be liable to pay to the Authority the cost of repairing or replacing the marine navigational aid, unless he proves that the damage or destruction of the marine navigational aid was not caused through wilfulness, negligence, misconduct or want of skill.
19B Notice of damage to be given
(1) A person who, or the master of a ship which, damages a marine navigational aid the property of the Authority shall, as soon as practicable having regard to the means of communication available to him, report the damage to a prescribed officer.
Penalty: Two hundred dollars.
(2) An offence under subsection (1) is an offence of strict liability.
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
20 Regulations fixing light dues
The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed, or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed, for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.
Note 1
The Lighthouses Act 1911 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 14, 1911 amended as indicated in the Tables below.
All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 1 October 2001 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.
Table of Acts
| Act | Number and year |
Date of Assent |
Date of commencement | Application, saving or transitional provisions | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1911 | 14, 1911 | 22 Dec 1911 | 1 July 1915 (see Gazette 1915, p. 1183) | ||||||
| Lighthouses Act 1915 | 17, 1915 | 28 June 1915 | 1 July 1915 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1915, p.1183) | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1919 | 6, 1919 | 2 Oct 1919 | 2 Oct 1919 | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1942 | 35, 1942 | 12 June 1942 | 10 July 1942 | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1949 | 36, 1949 | 13 July 1949 | 10 Aug 1949 | — | |||||
| Lands Acquisition Act 1955 | 69, 1955 | 4 Nov 1955 | 16 Feb 1956 (see Gazette 1956, p. 472) | S. 67(3) (rep. by 19, 1979, s. 58) | |||||
|
|||||||||
|
19, 1979 | 28 Mar 1979 | Parts II to XVI (ss. 3-122) and Part XVII (s. 123): 15 May 1979 (see Gazette 1979, No. S86) Remainder: Royal Assent | S. 58(2) | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1957 | 9, 1957 | 24 Apr 1957 | 22 May 1957 | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1961 | 63, 1961 | 24 Oct 1961 | 24 Oct 1963 (see Gazette 1963, p. 3769) | — | |||||
| Statute Law Revision (Decimal Currency) Act 1966 | 93, 1966 | 29 Oct 1966 | 1 Dec 1966 | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1970 | 106, 1970 | 4 Nov 1970 | 4 Nov 1970 | — | |||||
| Lighthouses Act 1972 | 61, 1972 | 31 Aug 1972 | 1 Feb 1973 (see Gazette 1973, No. 11) | — | |||||
| Statute Law Revision Act 1973 | 216, 1973 | 19 Dec 1973 | 31 Dec 1973 | Ss. 9(1) and 10 | |||||
|
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|
20, 1974 | 25 July 1974 | 31 Dec 1973 | — | |||||
| Administrative Changes (Consequential Provisions) Act 1978 | 36, 1978 | 12 June 1978 | 12 June 1978 | S. 8 | |||||
| Lighthouses Amendment Act 1979 | 99, 1979 | 22 Oct 1979 | 22 Oct 1979 | — | |||||
| Lands Acquisition (Repeal and Consequential Provisions) Act 1989 | 21, 1989 | 20 Apr 1989 | 9 June 1989 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1989, No. S185) | — | |||||
| Marine Navigation Levy Collection Act 1989 | 162, 1989 | 18 Dec 1989 | 1 July 1990 (see s. 2) | — | |||||
| Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 | 78, 1990 | 22 Oct 1990 | Ss. 35, 48, 62 and 63: 1 Jan 1991 Remainder: Royal Assent |
Ss. 63(1) and (2) | |||||
| Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1993 | 5, 1994 | 18 Jan 1994 | Schedule (item 51): Royal Assent (a) | — | |||||
| Statute Law Revision Act 1996 | 43, 1996 | 25 Oct 1996 | Schedule 2 (items 69, 70): (b) | — | |||||
| Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 | 143, 2001 | 1 Oct 2001 | 2 Oct 2001 | S. 4 [see Table A] | |||||
(a) The Lighthouses Act 1911 was amended by the Schedule (item 51) only of the Transport and Communications Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1993, subsection 2(1) of which provides as follows:
(1) Subject to subsections (2) to (10) (inclusive), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
(b) The Lighthouses Act 1911 was amended by Schedule 2 (items 69 and 70) only of the Statute Law Revision Act 1996, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:
(2) Each item in Schedule 2 commences or is taken to have commenced (as the case requires) at the time specified in the note at the end of the item.
Items 69 and 70 are taken to have commenced immediately after the commencement of section 62 of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990. Section 62 of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990 commenced on 1 January 1991.
Table of Amendments
| ad. = added or inserted am. = amended rep. = repealed rs. = repealed and substituted | |
| Provision affected | How affected |
| Title | am. No. 106, 1970 |
| Heading preceding s. 1 | rep. No. 216, 1973 |
| Heading to Part I | ad. No. 216, 1973 |
| S. 3 | am. No. 35, 1942; No. 106, 1970; No. 99, 1979; No. 162, 1989; No. 78, 1990 |
| S. 4 | rep. No. 35, 1942 |
| ad. No. 36, 1949 | |
| am. No. 9, 1957; No. 106, 1970; No. 61, 1972; No. 216, 1973; No. 162, 1989 | |
| S. 4A | ad. No. 143, 2001 |
| Heading preceding s. 5 | rs. No. 106, 1970 |
| rep. No. 216, 1973 | |
| Heading to Part II | ad. No. 216, 1973 (as am. by No. 20, 1974) |
| Ss. 5, 6 | am. No. 106, 1970; No. 216, 1973 |
| S. 6A | ad. No. 17, 1915 |
| am. No. 69, 1955; No. 93, 1966; No. 106, 1970; No. 216, 1973; No. 36, 1978; No. 21, 1989 | |
| S. 7 | am. No. 9, 1957 |
| rs. No. 106, 1970 | |
| am. No. 99, 1979; No. 78, 1990; No. 43, 1996 | |
| S. 8 | rs. No. 35, 1942 |
| am. No. 93, 1966; No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990; No. 5, 1994; No. 143, 2001 | |
| S. 9 | rep. No. 36, 1949 |
| S. 10 | am. No. 93, 1966; No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990; No. 143, 2001 |
| S. 11 | am. No. 106, 1970 |
| S. 12 | am. No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990 |
| Heading preceding s. 13 | rep. No. 216, 1973 |
| Heading to Part III | ad. No. 216, 1973 |
| Part III (ss. 13-18) |
rep. No. 162, 1989 |
| S. 13 | am. No. 35, 1942 |
| rep. No. 162, 1989 | |
| S. 14 | rep. No. 162, 1989 |
| S. 15, 16 | am. No. 106, 1970 |
| rep. No. 162, 1989 | |
| Ss. 17, 18 | rep. No. 162, 1989 |
| Heading preceding s. 19 | rep. No. 216, 1973 |
| Heading to Part IV | ad. No. 216, 1973 |
| S. 19 | am. No. 9, 1957; No. 93, 1966; No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990; No. 143, 2001 |
| S. 19A | ad. No. 6, 1919 |
| am. No. 9, 1957; No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990 | |
| S. 19B | ad. No. 6, 1919 |
| rs. No. 36, 1949; No. 9,1957; No. 63, 1961 | |
| am. No. 93, 1966; No. 106, 1970; No. 78, 1990; No. 143, 2001 | |
| Heading preceding s. 20 | rep. No. 216, 1973 |
| Heading to Part V | ad. No. 216, 1973 |
Table A
Application, saving or transitional provisions
Transport and Regional Services Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 143, 2001)
(1) Each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.
(2) For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.