Commonwealth Numbered Acts

WATER ACT 2007 (NO. 137, 2007) - SECT 48

             (1)  Within 60 days after the Authority gives the Minister an amendment of the Basin Plan, the Minister must:

                     (a)  consider the amendment; and

                     (b)  either:

                              (i)  adopt, in writing, the amendment; or

                             (ii)  give the amendment back to the Authority with suggestions for consideration by the Authority.

             (2)  If the Minister gives the amendment back to the Authority with suggestions, the Authority must:

                     (a)  consider the suggestions; and

                     (b)  undertake such consultations in relation to the suggestions as the Authority considers necessary or appropriate; and

                     (c)  give the Minister either:

                              (i)  an identical version of the amendment; or

                             (ii)  an altered version of the amendment;

                            together with the Authority's views on the Minister's suggestions.

             (3)  As soon as practicable after the Authority gives the Minister a version of the amendment under subsection (2), the Minister:

                     (a)  must consider that version of the amendment and the views given to the Minister under subsection (2); and

                     (b)  must either:

                              (i)  adopt, in writing, that version of the amendment; or

                             (ii)  direct the Authority, in writing, to make modifications to that version of the amendment and give it to the Minister for adoption.

             (4)  A direction under subparagraph (3)(b)(ii) is not a legislative instrument.

             (5)  The Minister must not give a direction under subparagraph (3)(b)(ii) in relation to:

                     (a)  any aspect of the Basin Plan that is of a factual or scientific nature; or

                     (b)  without limiting paragraph (a), any of the matters referred to in:

                              (i)  items 1, 2, 3 or 8 of the table in subsection 22(1); or

                             (ii)  subsection 75(1).

             (6)  If the Minister gives a direction under subparagraph (3)(b)(ii):

                     (a)  the Authority must comply with the direction; and

                     (b)  the Minister must adopt, in writing, the amendment given to the Minister in compliance with the direction.

             (7)  When the amendment is laid before a House of the Parliament under the Legislative Instruments Act 2003 , the Minister must also lay before that House a document that sets out:

                     (a)  any direction the Minister gave under subparagraph (3)(b)(ii) in relation to the amendment; and

                     (b)  the Minister's reasons for giving that direction.