33  Consultation before giving direction
Consultation with relevant State or Territory Ministers
(1)

Before giving an entity a direction under subsection 32(2), the Minister (the Commonwealth Minister) must:

(a)

consult the following persons (the consulted Minister):

(i)

the First Minister of the State, the Australian Capital Territory or the Northern Territory in which the critical infrastructure asset is wholly or partly located;

(ii)

each Minister of the State, the Australian Capital Territory, or the Northern Territory, who has responsibility for the regulation or oversight of the relevant critical infrastructure sector in that State or Territory; and

(b)

after reasonable steps have been taken to negotiate in good faith with the entity as described in paragraph 32(3)(b), give the entity and each consulted Minister written notice of the proposed direction.

(2)

The notice must invite the entity and each consulted Minister to make written representations to the Commonwealth Minister in relation to the proposed direction within the period specified in the notice, which must be:

(a)

at least 28 days after the notice is given; or

(b)

a shorter period if the Commonwealth Minister considers the shorter period is necessary because of urgent circumstances.

(3)

Subsection (1) does not limit the persons with whom the Commonwealth Minister may consult.