17Acting appointments

#### 17 Acting appointments (1) The Minister may appoint the Deputy Chairperson, a member or other person to act as Chairperson: (a) during a vacancy in the office of Chairperson, whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office; or (b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Chairperson is absent from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office of Chairperson; but a person so appointed shall not continue so to act for more than 12 months. > Note: For rules that apply to acting appointments, see section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. (1A) The Minister may appoint a member or other person to act as Deputy Chairperson: (a) during a vacancy in the office of Deputy Chairperson, whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office; or (b) during any period, or during all periods, when the Deputy Chairperson is absent from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office of Deputy Chairperson; but a person so appointed must not continue to act in that appointment for more than 12 months. > Note: For rules that apply to acting appointments, see section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. (2) Where the number of members referred to in paragraph 9(1)(c) is less than 10, the Minister may appoint a person who is not a member to act as a member, but a person so appointed shall not continue so to act: (a) if and after the number of those members ceases to be less than 10; or (b) for longer than 12 months. > Note: For rules that apply to acting appointments, see section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. (3) The Minister may appoint a person who is not a member to act in the place of a member referred to in paragraph 9(1)(c) during any period, or during all periods, when the member is acting as Chairperson, is absent from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office of member, but a person so appointed shall not continue so to act for longer than 12 months. > Note: For rules that apply to acting appointments, see section 33A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.