Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission (Meetings) Directions 2005
EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the authority of the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs
Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989
Section 12 of the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 provides that the Commission shall perform its functions and exercise its powers in accordance with such general directions as are given to it by the Minister in writing.
There is presently a Bill before the Parliament which will abolish the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission.
The effect of the Meetings Directions is to ensure that the Commission informs the Minister of its intention to meet and provides a draft agenda to the Minister with 30 days notice in writing before the Commission meets.
The Meetings Directions also provide that where the Commission has adjourned a meeting it may resume the meeting only if it informs the Minister of its intention to resume the meeting and provides a draft agenda to the Minister with 14 days notice in writing before the Commission resumes its meeting. The Directions provide that for the avoidance of doubt, this direction applies in respect of a meeting adjourned but not resumed at the time the direction is given.
Consultation was not appropriate in the circumstances.
The Directions commence on the date they are given to the Commission.