The Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act was given royal assent on 22 October 1990 authorising the establishment of the Authority on 1 January 1991.

The Authority is a body corporate with perpetual succession, has a seal, and may sue and be sued in its corporate name (Section 5 (2)).

The Authority may provide its services both within and outside Australia. The Minister for Shipping and Aviation Support, Senator Bob Collins, said that the Authority was being established in order to enhance efficiency and contain costs to industry in the delivery of Maritime Safety Services.

The functions of the Authority (listed in Section 6(1) of the Act) are:
a) to combat pollution in the marine environment;
b) to provide a search and rescue service;
c) to provide, on request, services to the maritime industry on a commercial basis;
d) to perform such other functions as are conferred on it by or under any other Act;
e) to provide consultancy and management services relating to any of the matters referred to in this sub-section;
f) to perform any other prescribed functions relating to any other matters referred to in this sub-section; and g) to perform functions incidental to any of the previously described functions.

The AMSA will administer the standards and procedures for the construction, equipment and safe loading of ships; the qualification and training of crews; the provision of marine navigation aids; and anti-pollution measures. The Federal Sea Safety Centre, which co-ordinates search and rescue operations over approximately one-ninth of the world's surface, will also transfer to AMSA. The Authority will be largely self-funding and will be responsive to industry needs while remaining properly accountable to Australian taxpayers.

Under section 13(1) of the Act, the Authority is to consist of:
a) a Chairperson appointed by the Minister,
b) a Deputy Chairperson appointed by the Minister,
c) the Chief Executive Officer appointed by the Minister,
d) the person for the time being occupying the office in the Department specified in writing by the Minister for the purpose of this subsection, and
e) three other members.

The Chairperson may be appointed as a full-time member or as a part-time member. The members (other than the Chairperson and the Chief Executive Officer) are to be appointed as part-time members.

On 17 December 1990, the Minister for Shipping and Aviation Support announced appointments of Mr Collin Freeland as Chairperson, Mr Graham McNaughton as Deputy Chairperson, and Ms Denise Fleming and Mr Teki Dalton as Directors of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority. Mr Freeland is shortly to retire from the position of Chief Executive Officer and Managing Director of the Civil Aviation Authority, a position he has held since 1988; Mr McNaughton recently retired as General Manager, Supply and Marine, of Shell Australia; Ms Fleming is currently Executive Director of Foresight Management; and Mr Teki Dalton is a successful buisnessman, boating journalist and well-known blue-water yachtsman. Senator Collins further said that.."given the combination of managerial, commercial and practical maritime expertise of these people, I am confident that the Authority will operate as a successful commercial entity from 1 January 1991."

Sources Media releases from Minister for Shipping and Aviation Support, 17 December 1990 Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, No 78 of 1990

Historical agency address

1991 – by 2010: 25 Constitution Avenue, Canberra City, ACT
By 2010 - : 82 Northbourne Avenue, Braddon, ACT

Legislation administered

Australian Maritime Safety Authority Act 1990, No.78 of 1990