16Functions of Committee

16 Functions of Committee

(1)  Within the period of 30 days beginning on the day the Committee is given a copy of a determination (a "special determination") under section 8(2) or (3) , the Committee may by resolution, with the agreement of the member of the Committee representing the Commonwealth and at least 5 other members of the Committee, request the Chair of the Board to give further information to the Committee in relation to the determination.

(2)  Subject to subsection (3) , the Chair of the Board must comply with the request.

(3)  If the Chair of the Board considers that disclosure of information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Chair must not give the Committee the information.

(4)  If the Chair of the Board does not give the Committee information on the ground that the Chair considers that disclosure of the information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Committee may refer the request to the State Minister.

(5)  If the Committee refers the request to the State Minister, he or she –

(a) must determine in writing whether disclosure of the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies; and

(b) must provide copies of that determination to the Chair of the Board and the Committee; and

(c) must not disclose his or her reasons for determining the question of whether the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies in the way stated in the determination.

(6)  Within the period of 30 days beginning on the day the Committee makes a request under subsection (1) in relation to a special determination, the Committee may by resolution, with the agreement of the member of the Committee representing the Commonwealth and at least 5 other members of the Committee, revoke the determination.

(7)  The Committee must notify the Chair of the Board and the CEO of the revocation and the revocation takes effect when the CEO is so notified.