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New South Wales act
This Act requires State agencies and Crown statutory bodies to carry out consultations that mainly affect communities outside the Greater Sydney Region with regard to a Consultation with Regional Communities Guide issued by the Premier (s3–4). Agencies must “have regard to” the guide, but failing to follow it does not invalidate a consultation; consultations governed by other Acts or functions outside ministerial control are excluded (s4). The Premier decides the procedural standards and agencies bear the practical compliance costs.
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Direct links to the current provisions in Regional Communities (Consultation Standards) Act 2024.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Definition
In this Act—
regional community means a community outside the Greater Sydney Region.
Note—
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
4 Consultation with regional communities to comply with standards
(1) A consultation with a regional community must be carried out having regard to the consultation guide if the consultation is—
(a) primarily directed to, or primarily impacts on, the health, cultural, environmental, economic, educational or other well-being of persons in the regional community, and
(b) to be carried out by or for the State, a NSW Government agency or a statutory body representing the Crown.
(2) This section does not apply to—
(a) a consultation required by or under another Act to be carried out in a specified way, or
(b) a consultation in relation to the exercise of a function that is not subject to the direction or control of a Minister.
(3) A failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of a consultation.
(4) In this section—
consultation guide means a Consultation with Regional Communities Guide issued from time to time by the Premier and published in the Gazette.
Sourced from legislation.nsw.gov.au, CC BY 4.0.
1 Name of Act
This Act is the Regional Communities (Consultation Standards) Act 2024.
2 Commencement
This Act commences on a day or days to be appointed by proclamation.
3 Definition
In this Act—
regional community means a community outside the Greater Sydney Region.
Note—
The Interpretation Act 1987 contains definitions and other provisions that affect the interpretation and application of this Act.
4 Consultation with regional communities to comply with standards
(1) A consultation with a regional community must be carried out having regard to the consultation guide if the consultation is—
(a) primarily directed to, or primarily impacts on, the health, cultural, environmental, economic, educational or other well-being of persons in the regional community, and
(b) to be carried out by or for the State, a NSW Government agency or a statutory body representing the Crown.
(2) This section does not apply to—
(a) a consultation required by or under another Act to be carried out in a specified way, or
(b) a consultation in relation to the exercise of a function that is not subject to the direction or control of a Minister.
(3) A failure to comply with this section does not affect the validity of a consultation.
(4) In this section—
consultation guide means a Consultation with Regional Communities Guide issued from time to time by the Premier and published in the Gazette.