18APowers and functions of acting principal officer

18A Powers and functions of acting principal officer (1) This section applies if a person is appointed to act as the principal officer of an Aboriginal agency during— (a) a vacancy in the office of the principal officer; or (b) any period when the principal officer is unable to perform the functions of the principal officer's office, whether because of illness, absence or for any other reason. S. 18A(2) amended by No. 30/2019 s. 5. (2) The person who is acting as the principal officer is authorised to perform the functions and exercise the powers specified in an authorisation under section 18 in respect of a child who is the subject of the authorisation as if— (a) the person were the principal officer; and (b) the person has all the functions, powers and duties of the principal officer under this Act. (3) This section applies even if the person acting as the principal officer is not an Aboriginal person. S. 18B inserted by No. 57/2015 s. 7.