Natural Resources and Environment Committee

Full description

Establishment and Function

The Natural Resources and Environment Committee was established under the Parliamentary Committees (Joint Investigatory Committees) Act 1982 (No. 9765). The purpose of the committee was:

" to inquire into, consider and report to the Parliament on -

(a) any proposal, matter or thing concerned with the natural resources of the State;
(b) how the natural resources of the State may be conserved;
(c) any proposal, matter or thing concerned with the environment;
(d) how the quality of the environment may be protected and improved; and
(e) any works or proposed works reasonably capable of having a significant effect upon the resources of the State or the environment-
where the Committee is required or permitted to do so by or under this Act." [S.4C].

Joint investigatory committees

The Committee is a joint investigatory committee of the Legislative Assembly and Legislative Council. The Committee comprised 12 members of which no more than six members could be appointed by the Council and no more than ten appointed by the Assembly.

As a joint investigatory committee, the Natural Resources and Environment Committee can inquire into matters referred to it by a joint resolution of both Houses or by order of the Governor-In-Council. It could 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 Natural Resources and Environment Committee (and any other joint investigatory committee other than the Public Bodies Review Committee) were not automatically accepted by Parliament. The appropriate responsible Minister, however, was 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 Natural Resources and Environment Committee are listed below.

**Special Access Conditions**

Although records transferred from this agency are available for public inspection, special access conditions apply. The records have been 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.