Joint Committee on Environment and Natural Resources

Full description

Establishment and Function

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee was established under the Parliamentary Committees (Amendment) Act 1992 (No.64). The purpose of the committee was to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on -

- any proposal, matter or thing concerned with the environment;
- any proposal, matter or thing concerned with natural resources;
- any proposal, matter or thing concerned with planning the use, development or protection of land - if the Committee is required or permitted so to do or under this Act. " [S.4EA].

The Committee effectively replaced the Natural Resources and Environment Committee (VA 3544).

This committee and Rural and Regional Committee were merged to form the Environment , Natural Resources and Regional Development Committee on 21 April 2015.

Joint Investigatory Committees

The Environment and Natural Resources Committee is a joint investigatory committee of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. As such it may comprise no more than nine members of which no more than two members could be appointed by the Council and no less than two appointed by the Assembly.

As a joint investigatory committee, the Environment and Natural Resources Committee can inquire into matters referred to it by a resolution of either House or by order of the Governor-In-Council. It may also inquire, consider or report to Parliament on any annual report or document relevant to its functions laid before either House. Recommendations made by the Environment and Natural Resources Committee (and any other joint investigatory committee other than the Public Bodies Review Committee) are not automatically accepted by Parliament. The appropriate responsible Minister, however, is required to table a report stating action to be taken regarding these recommendations within 6 months of the tabling of the report.

Location of Records

Records of the Environment and Natural Resources Committee are listed below.

**Special Access Conditions**

Although records transferred from Parliament are available for public inspection, special access conditions apply. Such records are transferred to the Public Record Office on the understanding that they remain the property of the Parliament of Victoria. Parliamentary records are transferred on condition that all requests for access will be referred to the Clerk of the Legislative Council/Legislative Assembly as appropriate, for determination in each case.

Application to inspect the records should be made to the appropriate officer and written authorisation must be presented at the Public Record Office Search Rooms before records can be made available for inspection.