New South Wales Consolidated Acts

PUBLIC INTEREST DISCLOSURES ACT 1994 - SECT 6A

6A Steering Committee

(1) There is established by this Act a Public Interest Disclosures Steering Committee consisting of the following members--

(a) the Ombudsman, who is to be the chairperson of the Steering Committee,

(b) the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet,

(c) the Auditor-General,

(d) the Chief Commissioner of the Independent Commission Against Corruption,

(e) the Chief Commissioner of the LECC,

(f) the local government investigating authority,

(g) the Commissioner of Police,

(g1) the Information Commissioner,

(g2) the Public Service Commissioner,

(h) such other members as may be prescribed by the regulations.

(2) The functions of the Steering Committee are--

(a) to provide advice to the Minister on the operation of this Act and recommendations for reform, and

(b) to receive, consider and provide advice to the Minister on any reports provided by the Ombudsman in the exercise of functions under section 6B or as referred to in section 31A.

(3) A member of the Steering Committee may appoint a nominee to act in the place of the member (either generally or for a particular purpose) and may revoke any such appointment. While acting in the place of a member, the member's nominee has all the functions of the member (including the functions of chairperson in the case of the Ombudsman's nominee) and is taken to be a member.

(4) The quorum for a meeting of the Steering Committee is 4 members of the Committee of whom 2 must be the Ombudsman and the Secretary of the Department of Premier and Cabinet (or their nominees).

(5) The Steering Committee is to determine its own procedures.

(6) The Ombudsman (as chairperson of the Steering Committee) is to prepare an annual report of the Steering Committee's activities and any recommendations made to the Minister during the reporting period of 12 months ending on 30 June in each year.

(7) The annual report is to be prepared and provided to the Minister as soon as practicable after the end of the reporting period and is to be tabled by the Minister in each House of Parliament as soon as practicable after the Minister receives it.