19Absence etc. of Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner

#### 19 Absence etc. of Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner (1) At any time when the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be, the next most senior member who is available has, and may exercise, all the powers (except a power to make a declaration under subsection 40D(4)), and shall perform all the functions and duties, of the Commissioner or the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be. (1A) The Minister may determine the remuneration and allowances of a person who exercises the powers, and performs the functions and duties, of the Commissioner under subsection (1). (1B) The Commissioner may determine the remuneration and allowances of a person who exercises the powers, and performs the functions and duties, of a Deputy Commissioner under subsection (1). (1C) A person is not entitled to be paid remuneration or allowances under this section for exercising the powers, and performing the functions and duties, of the Commissioner or a Deputy Commissioner for less than one week. (2) The exercise of the powers and the performance of the functions and duties of the Commissioner or of a Deputy Commissioner by a member under this section does not affect the exercise of any power or the performance of any function or duty by the Commissioner or by the Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be. (3) The validity of anything done by a person purporting to act in accordance with this section shall not be called in question on the ground that the occasion for his or her so acting had not arisen or had ceased. (4) For the purposes of subsection (1), the order of seniority of members is as determined by the Commissioner. (5) In this section, except so far as the contrary intention appears, a reference to the Commissioner or to a Deputy Commissioner shall be read as including a reference to an acting Commissioner or acting Deputy Commissioner, as the case may be, appointed under section 18.