7Membership of Land Trust

#### 7 Membership of Land Trust (1) A Land Trust shall, unless the Minister, in accordance with subsection (1A), determines that the Land Trust shall be differently constituted, consist of a Chair and such other members not less than 3 in number as the Minister appoints. (1A) Where, on the application, in writing, of the Land Council for the area in which the land to be held by a Land Trust established, or about to be established, under section 4, is situated, being an application made after the commencement of this subsection and before any person is appointed to be a member of that Land Trust, the Minister is satisfied that it is appropriate so to do, the Minister may, by signed writing, make, in respect of the Land Trust: (a) a determination that the Land Trust shall not have a Chair but shall consist of such number of members, not being less than 3, as the Minister specifies in the determination; or (b) a determination that the Land Trust shall consist of a Chair and 2 other members; and, where a determination is so made in relation to a Land Trust, the Land Trust shall be constituted in accordance with the determination. (2) The members of a Land Trust shall be appointed by the Minister on a nomination received by the Minister under subsection (3). (3) For the purposes of subsection (2), the Minister may request a nomination of a person from the Land Council for the area in which the Land Trust is to hold land. (4) A member of a Land Trust shall be appointed as a part‑time member. (5) The exercise or performance of a power or function by a Land Trust is not affected by reason only of there being a vacancy in the office of a member of the Land Trust. (6) All members of a Land Trust shall be Aboriginals living in the area of the Land Council in the area of which the land of the Land Trust is situated or whose names are set out in the register maintained by that Land Council in accordance with section 24. (7) Subject to this Act, a member of a Land Trust holds office for such period, not exceeding 5 years, as is specified in the instrument of his or her appointment and on such terms and conditions as the Minister determines, but is eligible for re‑appointment. (8) Where a member of a Land Trust is, or is about to be, unable, whether on account of illness or otherwise, to perform the duties of his or her office, the Minister may appoint an Aboriginal to act in the place of that member during the period during which that member is unable to perform the duties of his or her office. (9) A person appointed to act in the place of a member of a Land Trust has all the functions, powers and duties of that member.