Section 505B — Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Functions of the Committee

(1) The Committee has the following functions: (a) to advise the Minister on matters relating to the following: (i) the operation of this Act or an instrument made under this Act; (ii) the objects of this Act; (iii) the environment; (iv) policies, plans or programs (however described) that are made, prepared, varied or endorsed under this Act; (b) at the request of the CEO—to provide advice to the CEO in relation to matters specified in the request relating to the CEO’s functions under this Act; (c) at the request of the Director—to provide advice to the Director in relation to matters specified in the request relating to the Director’s functions under this Act; (d) to provide any other advice or information required or permitted to be obtained from the Committee under this Act or the regulations; (e) to perform any other functions that are conferred on the Committee by this Act or the regulations. (2) The Minister may give the Committee written guidelines about its function. (3) In performing its functions, the Committee must take into account the significance of Indigenous peoples’ knowledge of the management of land, sea and seabed, airspace and water, and the conservation and sustainable use of biodiversity. Advice beyond Committee’s expertise (4) Subsection (5) applies if: (a) the Committee is requested, required or permitted to provide advice under subsection (1); and (b) the Committee is satisfied that it does not have the appropriate expertise to provide the advice. (5) The Committee: (a) is not required to provide the advice; and (b) must advise the Minister, and any other person to whom the advice was to be provided, that the Committee is unable to provide the advice.