19Inquiries by Commission

19 Inquiries by Commission

(1) Where the Commission is required to inquire into and report upon an application or matter, the Chairperson may determine in writing that the powers of the Commission under this Act may, for the purposes of the inquiry and report on that application or matter or on such part of that application or matter as is specified in the determination, be exercised by a Division of the Commission constituted, subject to subsection (3), by such members as are specified in the determination. (2) Where the Chairperson has made a determination under subsection (1) the Chairperson may, in writing, at any time before the Division of the Commission specified in the determination has completed the inquiry and report, revoke the determination or, subject to subsection (3), amend the determination in relation to the membership of the Division or in any other respect, and, where the membership of the Division of the Commission is changed, the Division as constituted after the change may complete the inquiry and report. (2A) A determination made under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument. (3) A Division of the Commission exercising the powers of the Commission in respect of an application or matter shall consist of the Chairperson and not less than 2 other members. (4) For the purposes of an inquiry and report on an application or matter, or on a part of an application or matter, specified in a determination under subsection (1), the Commission shall be deemed to consist of the Division of the Commission specified in the determination. (5) At a meeting of a Division of the Commission: (a) if the Chairperson is present—the Chairperson shall preside; or (b) in any other case—a member of the Division appointed for the purpose by the Chairperson shall preside. (6) At a meeting of a Division of the Commission, a majority of the members constituting the Division form a quorum. (7) The Chairperson has, at a meeting of a Division of the Commission, a deliberative vote and, in the event of an equality of votes, also a casting vote. (8) A meeting of a Division of the Commission may be held notwithstanding that a meeting of another Division of the Commission is being held at the same time.