Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee) Regulation 2014

Select Legislative Instrument No. 110, 2014

I, General the Honourable Sir Peter Cosgrove AK MC (Ret’d), Governor‑General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following regulation.

Dated 22 July 2014

Peter Cosgrove

Governor‑General

By His Excellency’s Command

Greg Hunt

Minister for the Environment

Contents

1 Name of regulation

2 Commencement

3 Authority

4 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Amendments

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000

1  Name of regulation

  This regulation is the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee) Regulation 2014.

2  Commencement

  This regulation commences on the day after it is registered.

3  Authority

  This regulation is made under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999.

4  Schedule(s)

  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1—Amendments

Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Regulations 2000

1  Before Division 15.1 of Part 15

Insert:

Division 15.1A—Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development

15.01A  Functions of the Committee

 (1) For paragraph 505D(1)(h) of the Act, this regulation prescribes other functions of the Independent Expert Scientific Committee on Coal Seam Gas and Large Coal Mining Development.

Providing certain advice to the Minister

 (2) The Committee has the function of providing scientific advice to the Minister at the same time that the Committee provides that advice, in the performance of the Committee’s function under paragraph 505D(1)(b) or (2)(b) of the Act, to a Minister of a declared State or Territory.

Publishing certain advice etc.

 (3) The Committee has the function of publishing on the internet, within 10 business days of providing scientific advice to the Minister or a Minister of a declared State or Territory (the requesting Minister) in the performance of the Committee’s function under paragraph 505D(1)(a) or (1)(b) of the Act, the following material:

 (a) the advice provided by the Committee to the requesting Minister;

 (b) information identifying each proposed coal seam gas development and large coal mining development to which the advice relates;

 (c) the date on which the advice was finalised by the Committee;

 (d) any other information in relation to the advice that the Committee considers appropriate.

 (4) In this regulation:

business day means a day that is not a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday in the Australian Capital Territory.

2  Part 20 (heading)

Repeal the heading, substitute:

Part 20—Application and transitional provisions

3  At the end of Part 20

Add:

20.10  Amendments made by the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee) Regulation 2014

 (1) Subregulation 15.01A(2), as inserted by Schedule 1 to the amending regulation, applies in relation to scientific advice provided by the Committee to a Minister of a declared State or Territory on or after the commencement of that Schedule.

 (2) Subregulation 15.01A(3), as inserted by Schedule 1 to the amending regulation, applies in relation to scientific advice provided by the Committee to the Minister or a Minister of a declared State or Territory on or after the commencement of that Schedule.

 (3) In this regulation:

amending regulation means the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Amendment (Independent Expert Scientific Committee) Regulation 2014.