Compliance

Compliance rules

Due-diligence checks, deadlines, audits, heritage and environmental obligations across all jurisdictions.73 rules

All jurisdictions au-act au-cth au-nsw au-nt au-qld au-sa au-tas au-vic au-wa nz pg

NSW(8)

auditMCBefore transfer
Opal mineral claim procedural-defect check
For opal Mineral Claims, verify there's no unresolved s266(4)-style procedural defect in the claim's grant/renewal history (the 2023 remediation Act shows this is a real historical failure mode).
auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing
MinView / public register check
Check the public register (MinView) for competing applications, cancellations or gazettal notices before a dealing — grant/renewal/transfer/cancellation applications are all mandatorily gazetted.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
heritageBefore ground disturbance
Native title & Aboriginal cultural heritage
Check native title status and Aboriginal object/cultural heritage clearance under the National Parks and Wildlife Act before any ground disturbance.

NT(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineELPer the condition's own schedule
Expenditure condition compliance (reg 82)
Confirm the EL/ELR/EMEL's expenditure condition has been met or a variation-of-condition application (Form 30) lodged before it lapses.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalOngoing — check on any record older than mid-2024
Environment Protection Act 2019 approval (not the old Mining Management Act)
NT's environmental approval framework moved to the Environment Protection Act 2019 on 1 July 2024 — any tenement record still referencing the repealed Mining Management Act's environmental provisions is historical-only and should be flagged.
heritageBefore grant
Native title Future Act process
NT has extensive native title coverage — check Right to Negotiate / expedited-procedure status before grant.

Qld(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineEPMYears 3 and 5 of an EPM term
Area reduction schedule (EPM)
40% reduction at year 3 and 50% at year 5, repeating after each renewal.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalBefore ground-disturbing activity
Environmental Authority linkage
EPM/ML activity requires a linked Environmental Authority under the Environmental Protection Act 1994, separate from the Mineral Resources Act tenement itself.
heritageBefore grant or ground disturbance
Land access & native title (MERCP Act)
Check native title Future Act compliance and the land-access/objection regime under the Common Provisions Act, and confirm landholder access agreements are in place.

SA(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineELEvery 2 years
2-Year Expenditure Report
Due within 60 days of the end of each 2-year commitment period on an Exploration Licence.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalBefore ground disturbance
Program for Environment Protection and Rehabilitation (PEPR)
Part 10A of the Mining Act requires an approved PEPR (or a generic PEPR for low-impact work) before any ground disturbance — check its approval status and term (up to 12 months, or ongoing).
heritageBefore ground disturbance
Native title & Aboriginal heritage clearance
Confirm clearance as part of the allowable-expenditure and access-negotiation record before ground disturbance.

Tas(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineELAnnual
Annual exploration-licence return
Lodged via Service Tasmania — a good-standing check before any dealing.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalMLOngoing
Rehabilitation of Mining Lands Trust Fund standing
Check the mining lease's rehabilitation funding contribution status (s.181 MRDA).
heritageBefore grant
Aboriginal Land Council agreement (s.179 MRDA)
No lease or licence may be granted on Aboriginal land without the Aboriginal Land Council of Tasmania's agreement — a mandatory pre-grant check.

Vic(7)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
due diligenceBefore ground disturbance
Work plan & planning consent status
Mining requires planning permission and an approved work plan before any ground disturbance — confirm both are in place.
environmentalBefore transfer; periodic review
Rehabilitation bond sufficiency
Confirm the rehabilitation bond/financial assurance is current and sufficient — VAGO's 2023 'Rehabilitating Mines' audit found many licences under-bonded relative to the standard rate.

WA(10)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineEYear 6 (post-2006) or years 3 & 4 (pre-2006) of an Exploration Licence
Compulsory partial surrender (Exploration Licence)
40% (post-2006 grants) or 50% (pre-2006 grants) of an Exploration Licence's area must be surrendered at the scheduled year mark — a compliance event, not just a renewal option.
deadlineBefore ground disturbance; renew before the 4-year approval lapses
Programme of Work approval
Required before any mechanised ground-disturbing activity; approvals are valid 4 years from the approval letter, and rehabilitation is required within 6 months of disturbance.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalEvery ~3 years or per condition
Mine Closure Plan currency
Mine Closure Plans must be reviewed and re-approved periodically (commonly every 3 years or per tenement condition) — check the plan hasn't lapsed.
environmentalAnnual levy year
Mining Rehabilitation Fund (MRF) standing
Check the tenement's annual MRF levy contribution history — unpaid contributions are a red flag on any transfer or dealing.
heritageBefore grant, renewal or dealing
Native title status
Check for an active native title claim, determination, objection, referral or representative-body engagement over the tenement area — tracked as its own dimension, separate from general compliance.

NZ(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligenceBefore ground entry
Access arrangement status
Confirm an access arrangement with the landowner (Crown or private) is in place under Part 4 of the Crown Minerals Act before any ground entry.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalBefore ground entry on conservation land
DOC conservation land overlay
Where the permit area overlaps conservation land, confirm a Department of Conservation concession is held alongside the minerals permit.
heritageBefore grant and before ground-disturbing work
Iwi / Māori consultation
Check the consultation record with relevant iwi, as required by the permit conditions and the Minerals Programme.

PNG(8)

auditOngoing, especially in the final year of term
Pending renewal / extension applications
Check whether a renewal or extension application is lodged and its approval status, so a tenement doesn't lapse mid-transaction.
auditBefore grant
Warden's hearing outcome
Check the outcome and any conditions from the statutory warden's hearing on the application.
deadlineAnnually, on the grant anniversary
Rent / fee good standing
Confirm annual rent or licence fees are paid and not overdue — an unpaid rent notice is usually the first step toward forfeiture.
due diligencePer the jurisdiction's reporting cycle
Expenditure / work-commitment compliance
Confirm the required exploration expenditure or work programme has been met and reported for the current reporting year.
due diligenceBefore any transfer or dealing
Holder identity & dealings history
Verify the registered holder(s) and share splits match what's expected, and check the dealings register for caveats, mortgages, farm-ins or JVs.
due diligenceBefore any dealing; otherwise ongoing
Title validity & expiry
Confirm the tenement's current status is granted/live, and its expiry date is correct and not imminent, before relying on it in a deal or report.
environmentalBefore ground disturbance
Environment Act 2000 permit linkage
Confirm the required environmental permit under PNG's Environment Act 2000 is current and linked to the tenement.
heritageBefore grant and before any dealing
Landowner / customary land agreements
Confirm customary landowner identification and agreement is current — PNG land is predominantly customary-owned, making this the single most important pre-grant/pre-dealing check.