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Interpretation Act 1978
19Ministerial references
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19 Ministerial references
(1) A minister is a person holding a Ministerial office.
(2) A reference in an Act to the Minister:
(a) is a reference to:
(i) the minister administering the Act in or for which the
expression is used; or
(ii) if different ministers are administering the Act in different
respects, each of the ministers to the extent the minister
is administering it in the relevant respect; and
(b) includes a minister acting for the Minister.
Interpretation Act 1978 18
(3) A reference to the minister administering a provision of an Act or
having responsibility for an area or activity of government is a
reference to the minister to whom the provision or responsibility for
the area or activity is allocated by an Administrative Arrangements
Order or Act.
(4) A reference in a provision of an Act to the Minister or a specified
minister (including a reference to a minister that no longer exists)
includes a reference to the minister to whom the administration of
the provision is allocated by an Administrative Arrangements Order
or Act.
(5) If a reference is made in a provision of an Act to the Minister and
the administration of the provision has not been allocated to a
minister by an Administrative Arrangements Order or Act, the
reference is a reference to any minister.