14Acting member

##### 14 Acting member (1) The Minister may appoint a person to act as the member: (a) during a vacancy in the office of the member (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or (b) during any period, or during all periods, when the member is absent from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of the office of the member; but a person appointed to act during a vacancy shall not continue to act for more than 6 months. (2) Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act as the member is not invalid on the ground that: (a) the occasion for the person’s appointment had not arisen; (b) there is a defect or irregularity in connection with the person’s appointment; (c) the person’s appointment had ceased to have effect; or (d) the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.