16Membership of Committee

16 Membership of Committee

(1) The NHMRC Licensing Committee consists of the following members: (a) a member of AHEC; (b) a person with expertise in research ethics; (c) a person with expertise in a relevant area of research; (d) a person with expertise in assisted reproductive technology; (e) a person with expertise in a relevant area of law; (f) a person with expertise in consumer health issues relating to disability and disease; (g) a person with expertise in consumer issues relating to assisted reproductive technology; (h) a person with expertise in the regulation of assisted reproductive technology; (i) a person with expertise in embryology. (2) The Minister must appoint the members of the NHMRC Licensing Committee. (3) Before appointing a member, the Minister must: (a) seek nominations from the States and from such bodies as are prescribed by the regulations for the purpose; (b) consult, and have regard to the views expressed by, the States on the proposed appointment; and (c) be satisfied upon receipt of a written declaration by the member proposed to be appointed that the member proposed does not have a direct or indirect pecuniary interest in a body that undertakes uses of excess ART embryos or human eggs, or creation or uses of other embryos, being an interest of a kind that could conflict with the proper performance of the member’s functions. (4) The Minister must appoint one of the members, other than the member mentioned in paragraph (1)(a), as the Chairperson of the NHMRC Licensing Committee. (5) The Minister must not appoint a person: (a) as the Chairperson under subsection (4); or (b) as the member mentioned in paragraph (1)(h); unless a majority of the States agree with that appointment. (6) In appointing the members of the NHMRC Licensing Committee, the Minister must have regard to the desirability of ensuring that the Committee as a whole comprises members from different States. (7) It is the intention of the Parliament that any vacancy on the NHMRC Licensing Committee be filled as soon as possible. (8) If there is a vacancy in the membership of the NHMRC Licensing Committee for a period of 3 months the Minister must, within 3 sitting days of the expiration of that 3 months, table in each House of the Parliament a written statement of reasons for the failure to fill the vacancy.