Place Names Act 1994

The Minister must not exercise a power mentioned in section 7 until—

the chief executive has given a recommendation to the Minister under section 10A; and

if the Minister has, under section 10B, requested the publication of the proposal —the chief executive has complied with the request.

In exercising a power mentioned in section 7 about the proposal, the Minister—

must have regard to the stated place naming issues; and

may have regard to any other place naming issues the Minister considers appropriate; and

may have regard to the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A.

If the Minister decides to exercise a power under section 7 to change or discontinue an existing name, the Minister may state in the decision a period of up to 5 years after the day the decision takes effect during which the existing name continues to be an approved name for the place in addition to any other approved name of the place.

In deciding whether to state a period under subsection (3), the Minister—

must have regard to—

the stated place naming issues mentioned in section 6(2)(e), (f)(i), (g) and (h); and

the public interest; and

the recommendation made by the chief executive under section 10A(2)(b); and

may have regard to any other place naming issues.

The Minister—

must publish a gazette notice stating the decision, including the day any period stated in the decision under subsection (3) ends; and

must publish the decision in at least 1 of the following ways—

on a relevant website;

in an electronic version of a newspaper;

in a regional newspaper circulating generally in the area of the place to which the proposal relates; and

may publish the decision in another way the Minister considers appropriate.

The decision takes effect on the day stated in the gazette notice.