Environmental Protection Act 1994

A protocol is a procedure to be followed in—

developing or carrying out a monitoring program; or

taking samples; or

making tests or measurements; or

preserving or storing samples; or

performing analyses on samples; or

performing statistical analysis of the results of sample analyses and interpreting the results of the analyses; or

reporting the results and interpretation of the analyses; or

developing or applying a predictive model; or

carrying out a risk assessment to predict or estimate the risk of adverse effects of contamination on human health or another part of the environment; or

assessing the toxic characteristics of an element, compound or combination of compounds.

If this Act provides that, in a particular case, a thing is to be done under a protocol, without identifying a particular protocol, then the thing must be done under—

a protocol of the department that the department publishes and makes available for inspection by members of the public; or

if there is no protocol mentioned in paragraph (a) that applies to the case—a protocol issued, before the commencement of this section, by the Australian and New Zealand Environment Conservation Council; or

if there is no protocol mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) that applies to the case—a protocol under an Australian Standard or joint Standards Australia and Standards New Zealand standard; or

if there is no protocol mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (c) that applies to the case—a protocol issued by a Ministerial Council established by the Council of Australian Governments; or

if there is no protocol mentioned in paragraphs (a) to (d) that applies to the case—a protocol of an entity other than the department that the department publishes and makes available for inspection by members of the public.