McQuillan (1999) outlined the tasks of the Scientific Advisory Committee (SAC) as to:

• Define “critical habitat” for various species, with an emphasis on mapping of species habitat;

• Review the schedules of species. Specialist advisory committees put forward nominations as interim lists in 1994 that formed the basis of the current schedules. As a result the invertebrate advisory committee nominated seven species as extinct, eight as endangered, 18 as vulnerable and 142 considered to be rare. However, some taxa such as marine invertebrates were under-represented in deliberations, and the schedules require updating as new information comes to hand.

• Invite and evaluate public nominations for listing or delisting of species.