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Mineral and Petroleum Law (LAWS90043)
Graduate courseworkPoints: 12.5On Campus (Parkville)
From 2023 most subjects will be taught on campus only with flexible options limited to a select number of postgraduate programs and individual subjects.
To learn more, visit COVID-19 course and subject delivery.
About this subject
- Overview
- Eligibility and requirements
- Assessment
- Dates and times
- Further information
- Timetable(opens in new window)
Contact information
March
Lecturers
Professor Michael Crommelin AO (Coordinator)
Cameron Rider
Email: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Overview
| Availability(Quotas apply) | March |
|---|---|
| Fees | Look up fees |
Mineral and petroleum resources have shaped Australia’s history, economy, society and environment for more than 150 years and continue to do so. The exploitation of these resources involves governments as proprietors and regulators, together with private enterprise as explorers and developers. The complex relationship between governments and private enterprise provides the central theme of the subject. Australia’s federal system of government adds to the complexity of that relationship. The subject begins by identifying fundamental legal issues that occur in most countries in the exploration for and production of mineral and petroleum resources. It then examines the ways in which these issues are resolved in Australia, using statutory title regimes and government agreements. The effectiveness of the Australian approach to these matters is examined in the international context of legal arrangements employed for management of mineral and petroleum resources elsewhere in the world.
Principal topics include:
- Terminology: the meaning of ‘mineral’ and ‘petroleum’
- Jurisdiction over mineral and petroleum resources
- Property in mineral and petroleum resources
- Statutory exploration and production titles
- Government royalties
- Petroleum production controls and unit development
- Dealings and registration
- Private royalties
- Access to land
- Environmental controls
- State agreements
- Unconventional gas
- Underground storage
- Greenhouse gas storage
- Uranium
- Case study 1: Mineral Resources (Sustainable Development) Act 1990 (Vic)
- Case study 2: Offshore Petroleum and Greenhouse Gas Storage Act 2006 (Cth).
Intended learning outcomes
A student who has successfully completed this subject will:
- Understand the legal principles and arrangements relating to exploration for and production of mineral and petroleum resources in Australia, in the context of comparable principles and arrangements applicable in other countries
- Be familiar with the statutory regimes governing exploration for and production of mineral and petroleum resources in selected Australian jurisdictions
- Be able to apply the relevant law to problems arising in relation to these activities in Australia.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Eligibility and requirements
Prerequisites
Students must meet one of the following prerequisite options:
Option 1
Admission into a Melbourne Law Masters program
Option 2
Admission into the MC-JURISD Juris Doctor
AND
All of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50024 | Principles of Public Law | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50026 | Obligations | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50028 | Constitutional Law | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50029 | Contracts | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50025 | Torts | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50032 | Administrative Law | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50030 | Property | Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50033 | Equity and Trusts | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50036 | Remedies |
Semester 1 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
November (Dual-Delivery - Parkville)
|
12.5 |
| LAWS50034 | Criminal Law and Procedure | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
| LAWS50035 | Corporations Law | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
AND
One of
| Code | Name | Teaching period | Credit Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| LAWS50027 | Dispute Resolution | Not available in 2023 |
12.5 |
| LAWS90140 | Disputes and Ethics | Semester 2 (Dual-Delivery - Parkville) |
12.5 |
Corequisites
None
Non-allowed subjects
LAWS90043 Mineral and Petroleum Law
LAWS70268 Mineral Law
LAWS70041 Petroleum Law
Recommended background knowledge
Applicants without legal qualifications should note that subjects are offered in the discipline of law at an advanced graduate level. While every effort will be made to meet the needs of students trained in other fields, concessions will not be made in the general level of instruction or assessment. Most subjects assume the knowledge usually acquired in a degree in law (LLB, JD or equivalent). Applicants should note that admission to some subjects in the Melbourne Law Masters will be dependent upon the individual applicant’s educational background and professional experience.
Inherent requirements (core participation requirements)
The University of Melbourne is committed to providing students with reasonable adjustments to assessment and participation under the Disability Standards for Education (2005), and the Assessment and Results Policy (MPF1326). Students are expected to meet the core participation requirements for their course. These can be viewed under Entry and Participation Requirements for the course outlines in the Handbook.
Further details on how to seek academic adjustments can be found on the Student Equity and Disability Support website: http://services.unimelb.edu.au/student-equity/home
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Assessment
| Description | Timing | Percentage |
|---|---|---|
Option 1: Take-home examination
| 20 - 23 May 2022 | 100% |
Option 2: Research paper on a topic approved by the subject coordinator
| 8 June 2022 | 100% |
| Hurdle requirement: A minimum of 75% attendance. Note: the attendance hurdle does not apply when the subject is delivered online, however attendance at all live online sessions is expected. | Throughout the teaching period | N/A |
Additional details
Note: Students must choose assessment from the options listed above. If an option contains parts, all parts must be completed if that option is chosen.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Quotas apply to this subject
Dates & times
- March
Principal coordinator Michael Crommelin Mode of delivery On Campus (Parkville) Contact hours 24-34 hours Total time commitment 150 hours Pre teaching start date 16 February 2022 Pre teaching requirements Please refer to the Reading Guide on the LMS subject page for confirmation of which resources need to be read and what other preparation is required before the teaching period commences. Teaching period 16 March 2022 to 22 March 2022 Last self-enrol date 21 February 2022 Census date 17 March 2022 Last date to withdraw without fail 6 May 2022 Assessment period ends 8 June 2022 March contact information
Lecturers
Professor Michael Crommelin AO (Coordinator)
Cameron RiderEmail: law-masters@unimelb.edu.au
Phone: +61 3 8344 6190
Website: law.unimelb.edu.au
Additional delivery details
This subject has a quota of 30 students.
Enrolment is on a 'first in' basis. Waitlists are maintained for subjects that are fully subscribed.
Students should note priority of waitlisted places in subjects will be given as follows:
- To currently enrolled Graduate Diploma and Masters students with a satisfactory record in their degree
- To other students enrolling on a single subject basis, eg Community Access Program (CAP) students, cross-institutional study and cross-faculty study.
Please refer to the Melbourne Law Masters website for further information about the management of subject quotas and waitlists.
Melbourne Law School may reserve places in a subject for incoming international cohorts or where a subject is core to a specialisation with limited alternate options.
Last updated: 12 November 2022
Further information
- Texts
Prescribed texts
Specialist materials will be made available via the LMS in the pre-teaching period.
- Related Handbook entries
This subject contributes to the following:
- Links to additional information
- Available through the Community Access Program
About the Community Access Program (CAP)
This subject is available through the Community Access Program (also called Single Subject Studies) which allows you to enrol in single subjects offered by the University of Melbourne, without the commitment required to complete a whole degree.
Entry requirements including prerequisites may apply. Please refer to the CAP applications page for further information.
Additional information for this subject
If required, please contact law-masters@unimelb.edu.au for subject coordinator approval.
- Available to Study Abroad and/or Study Exchange Students
This subject is available to students studying at the University from eligible overseas institutions on exchange and study abroad. Students are required to satisfy any listed requirements, such as pre- and co-requisites, for enrolment in the subject.
Last updated: 12 November 2022