Commonwealth Numbered Acts

AUSTRALIAN NUCLEAR SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY ORGANISATION ACT 1987 No. 3 of 1987 - SECT 26

26. (1) The Minister shall establish a Committee under the name Safety Review
Committee.

(2) The functions of the Committee are-

   (a)  from time to time as the Committee considers appropriate, to review
        and assess the effectiveness of the standards, practices and
        procedures adopted by the Organisation to ensure the safety of its
        operations;

   (b)  either on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister or of
        the Board, to investigate any matter arising out of the operations of
        the Organisation that may have adverse consequences or implications in
        relation to the safety of those operations;

   (c)  either on its own initiative or at the request of the Minister, to
        furnish advice to the Minister on matters referred to in paragraphs
        (a) and (b); and

   (d)  either on its own initiative or at the request of the Board, to
        furnish advice to the Board on matters referred to in paragraphs (a)
        and (b).

(3) A reference in this section to the safety of the operations of the
Organisation is a reference to the safety of the members of the staff of the
Organisation and of the public in relation to those operations.

(4) The Committee shall, as soon as practicable after 30 June in each year,
prepare and submit to the Minister and to the Board a report of its operations
during the year that ended on that date.

(5) The Committee may submit to the Minister and to the Board such other
reports relating to the operations of the Committee as the Committee considers
appropriate.

(6) The Minister shall cause a copy of each report received by the Minister
under sub-section (4) to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15
sitting days of that House after the report is received by the Minister.

(7) The Minister may cause a copy of a report received by the Minister under
sub-section (5) to be laid before each House of the Parliament if the Minister
considers that the report is of sufficient importance to justify the report
being brought to the attention of the Parliament.

(8) For the purpose of the performance of its functions, the Committee may
obtain advice or assistance from any member of the staff of the Organisation.

(9) The Committee shall consist of such persons (not being fewer than 2, nor
more than 6, in number) as the Minister from time to time appoints.

(10) In making appointments to the Committee the Minister shall ensure that a
majority of the members of the Committee are persons who are not members of
the staff of the Organisation.

(11) The Minister shall appoint one of the members of the Committee to be the
Chairperson of the Committee and another of the members of the Committee to be
the Deputy Chairperson of the Committee.

(12) The Chairperson of the Committee may be referred to as the Chairman of
the Committee or the Chairwoman of the Committee, and the Deputy Chairperson
of the Committee may be referred to as the Deputy Chairman of the Committee or
the Deputy Chairwoman of the Committee, as the case requires.

(13) A member of the Committee may resign from office by writing signed by the
member and delivered to the Chairperson of the Board.

(14) At a meeting of the Committee-

   (a)  if the Chairperson of the Committee is present-he or she shall
        preside;

   (b)  if the Chairperson of the Committee is not present but the Deputy
        Chairperson of the Committee is present-he or she shall preside; or

   (c)  in any other case-the members of the Committee present shall elect one
        of their number to preside.

(15) Subject to sub-section (14), the Minister may determine the procedure to
be followed at or in relation to meetings of the Committee, including matters
with respect to-

   (a)  the convening of meetings of the Committee;

   (b)  the number of members of the Committee who are to constitute a quorum;
        and

   (c)  the manner in which questions arising at a meeting of the Committee
        are to be decided, and the Minister shall cause the Committee to be
        notified in writing of any determination under this sub-section.

(16) If the Minister decides that the members of the Committee should be
remunerated, those members shall be paid such remuneration as is determined by
the Remuneration Tribunal.

(17) Members of the Committee shall be paid such allowances as are prescribed.

(18) Sub-sections (16) and (17) have effect subject to the Remuneration
Tribunals Act 1973.