Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999

In relation to each item included in the finalised priority assessment list for an assessment period for a Subdivision A List, the Scientific Committee must publish a notice inviting people to make comments on the item.

The Scientific Committee may, under subsection (1), publish a single notice relating to all of the items on the finalised priority assessment list, or may publish a number of separate notices, each of which relates to one or more of the items.

A notice under subsection (1), in relation to an item or items:

must be published in accordance with the regulations referred to in paragraph (4)(a); and

must identify the item or items to which the notice relates; and

if the Subdivision A List is the list referred to in section 178 or 181—must identify the category of the Subdivision A List in which the item or items are proposed to be included; and

must invite people to make comments, to the Scientific Committee, setting out:

if the Subdivision A List is the list referred to in section 178 or 181—views about whether the item or items are eligible for inclusion in that category of the Subdivision A List; and

if the Subdivision A List is the list referred to in section 183—views whether the item or items are eligible for inclusion in the Subdivision A List; and

reasons supporting those views; and

must invite people:

to consider whether there exists Indigenous peoples’ knowledge, including knowledge about cultural significance, in relation to the item or items; and

if such knowledge exists—to provide, to the Scientific Committee, the knowledge or information on who may be able to provide the knowledge; and

must specify the date (the cut‑off date) by which comments must be received, which must be at least 30 business days after the notice has been published as required by paragraph (a); and

must specify, or refer to, the manner and form requirements that, under regulations referred to in paragraph (4)(b), apply to making comments; and

may also invite people to comment on other matters that the Scientific Committee considers appropriate; and

may also include any other information that the Scientific Committee considers appropriate.

The Scientific Committee must:

give the Indigenous Advisory Committee a copy of the notice; and

invite the Indigenous Advisory Committee to make comments in relation to the item or items to which the notice relates.

The regulations must provide for the following:

how a notice under subsection (1) is to be published;

the manner and form for making comments.