Resolution passed in the Legislative Assembly on 22 June 2011, Votes and Proceedings No 23, Item (18).

(18) Legislative Assembly Committee on Environment and Regulation

That, notwithstanding anything contained in the standing orders:

(1) A Portfolio Standing Committee to be known as the Legislative Assembly
Committee on Environment and Regulation be appointed. The following portfolio
responsibilities stand referred to the Committee – Environment; Heritage; Small
Business; Local Government; Fair Trading; Primary Industries; Resources and
Energy; and the North Coast.

(2) The name and portfolio groupings of the Committee may change to correspond
with any changes made by the Government to the relevant portfolios.

Terms of reference

(3) The Committee may examine, inquire into and report on the following matters
concerning its portfolio areas:

(a) any matter referred to it by the House;
(b) any relevant policy, bill or subordinate legislation;
(c) any relevant financial matter; and
(d) any relevant portfolio issue.

(4) Legislative scrutiny – The Committee, in this context, have a legislative
scrutiny function that shall include evaluating the policy impact and
consequences for each portfolio of any relevant bill introduced in Parliament,
any existing legislation and any item of subordinate legislation.

(5) Financial matters – The examination of financial matters by the Committee
include the review of government financial management, by considering the
financial documents, expenditure, performance and effectiveness of any relevant
government department, agency, statutory body or state-owned corporation.

(6) Examination of annual and other reports – The Committee may examine any
matter in the annual report or other reports of any public body, including:

(a) the adequacy and accuracy of all financial and operational information;
(b) any matter arising from the annual report or other report concerning the
efficient and effective achievement of the agency’s objectives.

(7) Public works – The Committee may consider any matter concerning public
works relating to the portfolio area.

Initiation of inquiries

(8) The Committee may be referred an inquiry by resolution of the House or in
writing from a Minister.

(9) Except in the case of bills, the Committee also may initiate an inquiry on
its own motion and report on any proposal, matter or thing relevant to its
functions, including an annual report, other report or petition. The Committee
can only consider a Bill on referral from the House, in accordance with
standing order 323 (Legislation Committees).

(10) The Committee take care not to duplicate an inquiry into any matters under
examination by another portfolio or standing committee of the House, and any
question arising in this connection may be referred to the House for
determination.

Membership

(11) The Committee consist of five members, comprising:

(a) three members supporting the Government (one of whom shall be the Chair);
(b) two members not supporting the Government.

(12) That the following members of the Legislative Assembly be appointed to
serve on the Committee: Mrs Tanya Davies, Mr Thomas George, Mr Jamie Parker,
Mr Chris Patterson and Ms Carmel Tebbutt.

Sub-committees

(13) The Committee have the power to appoint sub-committees, consisting of 3
members, and to refer to a sub-committee any of the matters which the Committee
is empowered to consider. In this regard, the sub-committee may be responsible
for conducting hearings, briefings, visits of inspections and other activities
but cannot make decisions concerning the conduct of an inquiry, such as the
selection of witnesses, and the Committee’s reports.

(14) The Committee and any sub-committee have power to send for persons and
documents, to move from place to place, and to meet and transact business
during the sittings or any adjournment of the House, and despite any
prorogation of the Houses of Parliament.

(15) A sub-committee have at least one member supporting the Government and one
member not supporting the Government, and a quorum for a sub-committee shall be
at least two members.

Visits of inspection

(16) The Committee have leave to make visits of inspection within the State of
New South Wales and other States and Territories of Australia.