EXPLANATORY STATEMENT
Issued by the Authority of the Minister for Education, Science and Training
Governance Review Implementation (Science Research Agencies) Act 2007
Proclamation
Subsection 2 (1) of the Governance Review Implementation (Science Research Agencies) Act 2007 (the Act) provides that Schedules 1, 2, and 3 to the Act commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation. However, if any of the provisions of Schedules 1, 2, and 3 do not commence within six months of the date the Act receives the Royal Assent, then those provisions commence on the first day after the end of that six month period. The Act received Royal Assent on 21 June 2007.
The purpose of the Proclamation was to fix 10 September 2007 as the day on which Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Act commenced.
The Act amends the law relating to statutory agencies in the field of science research and for related purposes. It seeks to improve the corporate governance of three statutory authorities in the Education, Science and Training portfolio- the Australian Institute of Marine Science (AIMS), the Australian Nuclear Science and Technology Organisation (ANSTO) and the Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organisation (CSIRO).
Schedules 1, 2 and 3 to the Act provide the framework for amendments to the governance arrangements of AIMS, ANSTO and CSIRO, respectively.
The Proclamation is a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.
Consultation
The Department of Education, Science and Training consulted with AIMS, ANSTO and CSIRO as to the appropriate date for the proclamation to commence. The agencies advised the Department that 10 September 2007 was the appropriate date as this would allow the agencies sufficient time to revise their corporate governance to conform to the requirements of the relevant Schedule to the Act.
Commencement
Provides that the Proclamation commences on the day after it is registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.