Section 90 — Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999: Directing an inquiry after starting an assessment

Application (1) This section applies if: (a) the Minister has made a decision (the first decision) under section 87 that the relevant impacts of an action must be assessed by: (i) assessment by public environment report under Division 5; or (ii) assessment by environmental impact statement under Division 6; and (b) the designated proponent publishes: (i) a draft report under section 98 (about public environment reports); or (ii) a draft statement under section 103 (about environmental impact statements). Revoking and substituting decision (2) The Minister may revoke the first decision and make another decision (the new decision) under section 87 (in substitution for the first decision) that the relevant impacts of the action must be assessed by an inquiry under Division 7. Effect of revocation and substitution (3) When the first decision is revoked and the new decision is substituted for it: (a) whichever of Divisions 5 and 6 applied in relation to the action because of the first decision ceases to apply in relation to the action; and (b) Division 7 applies in relation to the action.