New South Wales Consolidated Acts

PROTECTION OF THE ENVIRONMENT ADMINISTRATION ACT 1991 - SECT 28

28 Membership and procedure of Council

(1) The Council is to consist of an independent Chairperson, and eleven other members chosen from the categories referred to in subsection (5) (a)-(i). Those eleven other members are to be appointed by the Minister following consultation with the Minister for Education and Training.

(2) The Chairperson is to provide strategic leadership, vision and corporate governance to the Council in the exercise of its functions.

(3) The Chairperson is to possess relevant tertiary qualifications and have knowledge, skills or experience in 2 or more of the following:

(a) environmental education,

(b) environmental sciences,

(c) education program planning,

(d) working with government departments and agencies and community and business groups,

(e) public relations and promotion,

(f) strong communication and interpersonal skills,

(g) capacity to equitably involve all relevant stakeholders,

(h) demonstrated skills in dealing with the media.

(4) The Chairperson is to be appointed by the Minister as follows:

(a) the Minister is to make a public call for nominations for the office of Chairperson,

(b) the Chairperson is to be selected on merit by a panel chosen by the Minister and consisting of the following:

(i) a senior officer of the Department of Education,

(ii) a senior officer of the Authority,

(iii) a person holding a senior university appointment in the field of environmental education,

(iv) an independent person to represent community interests.

(5) The other eleven members of the Council are to be as follows:

(a) two representatives of government departments and agencies within the administration of the Minister, one of whom is to be from the Authority,

(b) two representatives of government departments and agencies within the administration of the Minister for Education and Training, one of whom is to be from the TAFE Commission,

(c) a representative of government departments and agencies within the administration of the Minister for Urban Affairs and Planning,

(d) a representative of government departments and agencies within the administration of the Minister for Agriculture and the Minister for Land and Water Conservation,

(e) a representative of community-based organisations concerned with the protection of the environment chosen from a panel of nominees provided to the Minister by the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales,

(f) a representative of professional organisations concerned with environmental education chosen from a panel of nominees provided to the Minister by the Association for Environmental Education or by the Australian Association for Environmental Education Incorporated, or by a successor of either of those bodies,

(g) a representative of local government authorities or associations chosen from a panel of nominees provided to the Minister by the Local Government and Shires Associations of New South Wales,

(h) a representative of industry chosen from panels of nominees provided to the Minister by peak industry and employer organisations,

(i) a representative of universities in the State chosen from a panel of nominees provided to the Minister by the New South Wales Vice-Chancellors’ Conference or by any other body that in the opinion of the Minister has replaced the Conference.

(6) The Minister is to cause public notice to be given of the intention to call for nominations from the bodies referred to in subsection (2) (e), (f), (g), (h) and (i).

(7) If a panel of nominees from which a member is to be chosen for appointment is not provided within the time and in the manner directed by the Minister, the Minister may appoint a person to be a member instead of the person required to be chosen for appointment from a panel so provided. A person so appointed is taken to have been duly nominated.

(10) Schedule 2 has effect with respect to the members and procedure of the Council.