8B   Western Lands Advisory Council

(1)  There is to be a Western Lands Advisory Council.

(2)  The Western Lands Advisory Council is to have 15 members appointed by the Minister, and of whom:

(a)  four are to be appointed to represent lessees in the Western Division:

(i)  2 being nominees of the Western Division Council of the NSW Farmers’ Association, and

(ii)  one being the nominee of The Pastoralists’ Association of West Darling, and

(iii)  one being a person who is independent of each of the associations referred to in subparagraphs (i) and (ii), and

(b)  two are is to be appointed to represent the interests of local councils, each being a nominee of the Western Division Group of the Shires Association of NSW, and

(c)  two are to be appointed to represent the interests of Aboriginal people, of whom one is to be appointed on the nomination of the New South Wales Aboriginal Land Council, and

(d)  one is to be appointed on the nomination of the Nature Conservation Council of New South Wales to represent the interests of environment protection groups, and

(e)  one is to be appointed to represent the interests of catchment management boards, and

(f)  one is to be appointed to represent the interests of the Minister for Climate Change and the Environment, and

(g)  one is to be appointed to represent the interests of the Minister for Primary Industries, and

(g1)  one is to be appointed to represent the interests of the Minister for Mineral Resources, and

(h)  one is to be the Commissioner, and

(i)  one is to be appointed as an independent chairperson for the Council.

(3)  Each of the members referred to in subsection (2) (a)–(e) must be a person who, in the Minister’s opinion, has a current or recent connection with, or has a relevant interest in, the Western Division.

(4)  If a candidate to represent the interests of any person or body is not duly nominated as referred to in subsection (2), the Minister may appoint any person to represent those interests without the need for nomination.

(5)  The regulations may make provision with respect to qualifications for appointment as a member of the Western Lands Advisory Council.

(6)  Schedule 5 has effect with respect to the constitution and procedure of the Western Lands Advisory Council.