31Meetings of Land Council

#### 31 Meetings of Land Council (1) The Chair shall convene such meetings of a Land Council as are, in his or her opinion, necessary for the efficient conduct of its affairs and, at such a meeting, the Chair shall preside if he or she is present and, if the Chair is not present, the Deputy Chair shall preside. (2) At the request of at least 6 members of a Land Council, the Deputy Chair may convene a meeting of the Land Council and, if the Deputy Chair does so, shall preside at that meeting. (3) The Minister may, where he or she considers that the circumstances require it, convene a meeting of the Land Council and appoint a member of the Land Council to preside at the meeting. (4) The quorum for a meeting of a Land Council is such number of members as is equal to: (a) where the number of members of the Land Council at the time of the meeting is an even number—one‑half of that last‑mentioned number; or (b) any other case—one‑half of the number that is less by 1 than the number of members of the Land Council at the time of the meeting; and, except where the meeting has been convened under subsection (3), includes the Chair or the Deputy Chair. (5) A question arising at a meeting of a Land Council shall be decided by a majority of the votes of members present and voting. (6) At a meeting of a Land Council the member presiding has a deliberative vote and, in the event of votes being equal, has a casting vote. (7) A Land Council must make written rules, not inconsistent with this Act, providing for and in relation to the convening of meetings, and the procedure for the conduct of meetings, of the Council. The rules are not a legislative instrument. (7A) A Land Council must give a copy of the rules made under subsection (7) to the Minister for his or her approval. (7B) The Minister must, by notice in writing, approve or refuse to approve the rules. The notice is not a legislative instrument. (7C) The rules come into force once the Minister has approved them. (7D) A Land Council must allow the following persons to inspect, at any reasonable time without charge, rules made under subsection (7) and approved by the Minister: (a) the traditional Aboriginal owners of Aboriginal land in the area of the Council; (b) any Aboriginal living in the area of the Council. (9) Subject to any direction of the member presiding, a member of a Land Council may be accompanied to a meeting of the Land Council by such other residents of the area of the Land Council as may wish so to accompany him or her. Minutes (10) A Land Council must keep minutes of its meetings. (11) A Land Council must allow the following persons to inspect, at any reasonable time without charge, the minutes of its meetings (other than any part of the minutes that relates to an excludable matter): (a) the traditional Aboriginal owners of Aboriginal land in the area of the Council; (b) any Aboriginal living in the area of the Council.