Subdiv 4Scientific Committee

Subdivision 4—Scientific Committee 23—Establishment of Scientific Committee The Scientific Committee is established. 24—Composition of Scientific Committee etc (1) The Scientific Committee will consist of the prescribed number of members. (2) Members of the Scientific Committee will be appointed by the Minister on the basis of the technical skills and scientific expertise considered necessary to achieve its functions. (3) In addition, the Minister should seek to appoint persons who can demonstrate— (4) One member of the Scientific Committee must be an Aboriginal person who may, but need not, be a member of the ABC. (5) The Minister will designate a member of the Scientific Committee to chair meetings of the Scientific Committee. (6) The chair of the Scientific Committee may not be a member of the Public Service. (a) set out requirements as to the requisite skills and expertise of the members of the Scientific Committee; and (b) prescribe requirements in respect of the appointment of members of the Scientific Committee. 25—Functions of Scientific Committee (1) The primary function of the Scientific Committee is to make final listing decisions and provisional listings in respect of the designated lists. (2) In addition, the Scientific Committee has the following functions: (a) to provide advice on matters in relation to Part 6, including advice relating to the assessment, listing and recovery of native species, ecological communities and ecological entities; (b) to prepare nominations under Part 6 for native species, ecological communities and ecological entities; (c) to review and provide advice on nominations and assessments in relation to listing decisions under Part 6; (d) to provide advice in relation to the adequacy of the eligibility criteria prescribed for the purposes of section 73; (e) to review and provide advice on nominations, assessments and declarations of critical habitat under Part 6; (f) to review and provide advice on action plans and threat abatement plans under Part 6; (g) to undertake extinction inquiries in accordance with section 82; (h) to provide advice in relation to the adequacy of the designated lists required to be maintained under Part 6 and the effectiveness of the listing processes; (i) to report annually on the operation of Part 6, including on the maintenance of the designated lists required to be maintained under that Part; (j) to provide advice in relation to the State Biodiversity Plan and other relevant plans and policies developed under this Act; (k) such other functions assigned to it by or under this Act or by the Minister.