65Consultation by the Nature Repair Committee

65 Consultation by the Nature Repair Committee

(1) The Nature Repair Committee must not advise the Minister whether the Minister should make or vary a biodiversity assessment instrument unless the Committee has first: (a) published on the Department’s website: (i) a detailed outline of the proposed instrument or variation, as the case may be; and (ii) a notice inviting the public to make a submission to the Committee on the detailed outline by a specified time limit; and (b) considered any relevant submissions that were received within that time limit. (2) The time limit must be at least 28 days after the notice is published. (3) However, the time limit may be shorter than 28 days after the notice is published, so long as: (a) the Nature Repair Committee considers that the time limit is appropriate in the circumstances; and (b) the time limit is not shorter than 14 days after the notice is published. Publication of submissions (4) The Nature Repair Committee must publish on the Department’s website any relevant submissions under subsection (1) received within the time limit referred to in subparagraph (1)(a)(ii). (5) However, the Nature Repair Committee must not publish a particular submission made by a person if publication of the submission could reasonably be expected to substantially prejudice: (a) Indigenous cultural heritage; or (b) biodiversity. (6) The Nature Repair Committee may decide under subsection (5) not to publish a submission: (a) on its own initiative; or (b) at the request of the person who made the submission. (7) A request under subsection (6) must: (a) be in writing; and (b) be in a form approved, in writing, by the Committee.