Biodiversity Conservation Act 2016

The Scientific Committee is to consist of 11 members appointed by the Minister.

Of the members of the Scientific Committee—

2 are to be scientists who are employees of the Department and nominated by the Environment Agency Head, and

1 is to be a scientist who is an employee of, and nominated by, the Royal Botanic Gardens and Domain Trust, and

1 is to be a scientist who is an employee of, and nominated by, the Australian Museum Trust, and

1 is to be a scientist who is an employee of, and nominated by, the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation, and

2 are to be scientists who are employees of a public authority and who have expertise in forest ecology, agricultural science or natural resource management, and

4 are to be scientists who are—

employees of a New South Wales tertiary educational institution, or

nominated by a professional body principally involved in ecological or invertebrate research.

A person who is appointed as a member of the Scientific Committee is to have expertise in one or more of the following areas of study—

vertebrate biology,

invertebrate biology,

plant biology,

terrestrial ecology,

plant community ecology,

limnology,

aquatic biology,

genetics of small populations,

population dynamics (including population viability analysis or evolutionary ecology).

If the person or body responsible for nominating a member of the Scientific Committee under this section (the nominating body) fails to submit a nomination to the Minister, within such time and in such manner as may be specified by the Minister by notice in writing to the nominating body, the Minister—

may seek a nomination from any other person or body that the Minister considers to be a suitable substitute for the nominating body, and

may appoint any scientist nominated by that other person or body as a member of the Scientific Committee, in place of a scientist nominated by the nominating body.