17Committees

17 Committees

(1) The Council may, with the approval of the Minister, establish committees to assist it in the performance of its functions and the exercise of its powers. (2) Before approving the establishment of a committee, the Minister is to consult the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives. (3) A committee may be constituted wholly by members of the Council or partly by members of the Council and partly by other persons. (4) The Council must appoint a member of a committee who is also a member of the Council to be the Chairperson of the committee. (5) The Council may, by resolution, determine:

(a) the manner in which a committee is to perform its functions; and

(b) the procedure to be followed at or in relation to meetings of a committee, including matters with respect to:

(i) the convening of meetings of the committee; and

(ii) the quorum for meetings of the committee (including requirements that particular members be present); and

(iii) the member of the committee to preside at meetings of the committee at which the Chairperson of the committee is not present; and

(iv) the manner in which questions arising at a meeting of the committee are to be decided; and

(v) the keeping of minutes; and

(vi) the inviting of persons to attend meetings of the committee.

(6) Except in relation to matters determined by the Council under subsection (5), and subject to section 23, a committee may determine the procedure to be followed at or in relation to its meetings. (7) Where a member of a committee disagrees with a finding or recommendation to be included in a report of the committee, the report must:

(a) identify the member; and

(b) include a statement of the views of the member in relation to the finding or recommendation.

(8) A committee is not to publish any report unless the Council has approved its publication.