Section 146C — Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Inviting comments from other Ministers about decisions relating to endorsed policy, plan or program

(1) Before the Minister (the Environment Minister) decides whether or not to approve the taking of an action or a class of actions in accordance with an endorsed policy, plan or program, or to make a variation covered by paragraph 146DJ(2)(a), (b), (c) or (d) of an approval under section 146B, the Environment Minister may: (a) inform any other Minister whom the Environment Minister believes has administrative responsibilities relating to the action or class of actions to which the proposed decision relates; and (b) invite each Minister informed to give the Environment Minister, within 10 business days, comments on the proposed decision. (2) A Minister who is invited to comment may make comments: (a) that relate to economic and social matters relating to the action or class of actions to which the proposed decision relates; and (b) that may be considered by the Environment Minister consistently with the principles of ecologically sustainable development. This does not limit the comments such a Minister may give.