There are a number of regulatory instruments that support the gas industry structure. The key instruments include:
This Act regulates gas activities in Tasmania. It includes provisions for licensing the construction and operation of gas distribution and transmission pipelines, and for the retailing of gas.
This Act regulates safety and technical standards to ensure the infrastructure that comprises the Tasmanian gas supply industry is constructed, maintained and operated to a high standard of safety. The Director of Gas Safety is responsible for performing the functions imposed by this Act.
Natural Gas Pipeline Access Agreement (NGPAA)
The Natural Gas Pipeline Access Arrangement (NGPAA) was entered into on 7 November 1997 between the Commonwealth, State and Territory Governments and provides for certain principles to apply to access negotiations and for the National Gas Code to be given effect through a uniform Gas Pipelines Access Law.
The NGPAA provides for the Gas Pipelines Access Law to be included in schedules to South Australian legislation and for this Law to be applied in turn by the other parties to the NGPAA by means of application legislation.
Natural Gas Law
The National Gas Law is set out in the Schedule to the National Gas (South Australia) Act 2008. It applies as a law of Tasmania under section 7 of the National Gas (Tasmania) Act 2008 and contains detailed provisions concerning the natural gas pipeline access arrangement.