12Meaning of staff member—Commonwealth agencies

#### 12 Meaning of staff member—Commonwealth agencies (1) The following are staff members of a Commonwealth agency: (a) in the case of a parliamentary office—an individual who is employed by the parliamentarian under the Members of Parliament (Staff) Act 1984; (b) in the case of an agency other than a parliamentary office—the head of the agency; (c) if the agency is a Commonwealth entity—an official (within the meaning of the PGPA Act) of the entity; (d) in any case—an individual who is employed by, or engaged in assisting: (i) the agency; or (ii) a staff member of the agency on behalf of the agency or the Commonwealth; (e) a director or officer of the following: (i) a Commonwealth company; (ii) a subsidiary of a corporate Commonwealth entity or a Commonwealth company; (f) if the agency is responsible for administering a Commonwealth contract—an individual who is either of the following: (i) a contracted service provider for the contract; (ii) both an officer or employee of a contracted service provider for the contract and someone who provides goods or services for the purposes (whether direct or indirect) of the contract; (g) in any case—a secondee to the agency. (2) However, if a Commonwealth agency is covered by an item of the following table then the staff members of the agency are the persons mentioned in paragraphs (1)(b), (f) and (g) and the persons mentioned in column 2 of that item. ```html <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:0.25pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Staff members for certain Commonwealth agencies</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Agency</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Staff members</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The High Court</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who is appointed or engaged as an officer or employee of the High Court under section</span><span> </span><span>26 of the </span><span style="font-style:italic">High Court of Australia Act 1979</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Either of the following:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) the Australian Geospatial</span><span>‑</span><span>Intelligence Organisation;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the Defence Intelligence Organisation</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who is employed in the agency or a member of the Australian Defence Force who is engaged in the agency</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2A</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual acting under the authority of the Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Animal Welfare and Live Animal Exports</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Biosecurity</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual engaged under the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Public Service Act</span><span style="font-style:italic"> </span><span style="font-style:italic">1999</span><span> who is assisting the Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Biosecurity</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>5</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Water Compliance</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual engaged under the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Public Service Act</span><span style="font-style:italic"> </span><span style="font-style:italic">1999</span><span> who is assisting the Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of Water Compliance</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>6</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of the Australian Defence Force</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>A member of the staff of the Inspector</span><span>‑</span><span>General of the Australian Defence Force</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>7</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Administrative Review Tribunal</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Each of the following:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) a non</span><span>‑</span><span>judicial member (within the meaning of the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Administrative Review Tribunal Act 2024</span><span>);</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) a staff member (within the meaning of that Act)</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> ``` (3) An individual who: (a) is covered by column 1 of an item of the following table; and (b) is not a staff member of a Commonwealth agency under subsection (1) or (2); is a staff member of the agency identified under column 2 of that item. ```html <table cellspacing="0" cellpadding="0" style="margin-left:0.25pt; border-collapse:collapse"><thead><tr><td colspan="3" style="width:343.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Staff members of Commonwealth agencies—rules for certain statutory office holders and other individuals</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Item</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 1</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Individual</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="TableHeading"><span>Column 2</span></p><p class="TableHeading"><span>Agency</span></p></td></tr></thead><tbody><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>1</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who is a statutory office holder</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:1.5pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Whichever of the following applies:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) if the purposes of a Commonwealth entity for the purposes of the finance law include assisting the office holder, or a body (whether incorporated or not) of which the office holder is a member or forms a part—the Commonwealth entity (subject to paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(b));</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) if the primary function of the office holder is to assist a Commonwealth agency, or another staff member of such an agency, in the performance of the agency’s or the other staff member’s functions—that agency;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(c) the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the provision of the law by or under which the office is established (subject to paragraphs</span><span> </span><span>(a) and (b))</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>2</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual (other than an official of a registered industrial organisation) who exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the individual by or under a provision of a law of the Commonwealth, other than by or under:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) a general law allowing incorporation as a company or body corporate; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Australian Capital Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1988</span><span>; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(c) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Northern Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1978</span><span>; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(d) a provision of a law prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Whichever of the following applies:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) if the power is exercised, or the function is performed, for the purpose of assisting a Commonwealth agency, or another staff member of such an agency, in the performance of the agency’s or other staff member’s functions—that agency;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the provision of the law (subject to paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a))</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>3</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who is a director, officer, employee or contractor of a body corporate that exercises powers, or performs functions, conferred on the body corporate by or under a provision of a law of the Commonwealth, other than by or under:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) a general law allowing incorporation as a company or body corporate; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Australian Capital Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1988</span><span>; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(c) the </span><span style="font-style:italic">Northern Territory (Self</span><span style="font-style:italic">‑</span><span style="font-style:italic">Government) Act 1978</span><span>; or</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(d) a provision of a law prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this paragraph</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:0.75pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>Whichever of the following applies:</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(a) if the power is exercised, or the function is performed, for the purpose of assisting a Commonwealth agency, or another staff member of such an agency, in the performance of the agency’s or other staff member’s functions—that agency;</span></p><p class="Tablea"><span>(b) the Department administered by the Minister responsible for administering the provision of the law (subject to paragraph</span><span> </span><span>(a))</span></p></td></tr><tr><td style="width:24.4pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>4</span></p></td><td style="width:149pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>An individual who holds an appointment under section</span><span> </span><span>67 of the Constitution</span></p></td><td style="width:148.5pt; border-top:0.75pt solid #000000; border-bottom:1.5pt solid #000000; padding-right:5.4pt; padding-left:5.4pt; vertical-align:top"><p class="Tabletext"><span>The Department administered by the Prime Minister</span></p></td></tr></tbody></table> ``` Providing for individuals to be staff members of a different agency (4) The regulations may provide that an individual who would otherwise be a staff member of a particular Commonwealth agency under subsection (1), (2) or (3) is a staff member of a different Commonwealth agency. Certain individuals are not staff members (5) Despite anything else in this section, none of the following is a staff member of a Commonwealth agency: (a) the Governor‑General; (b) a Deputy Governor‑General; (c) a parliamentarian; (d) a Justice of the High Court or a judge of a court created by the Parliament; (e) a judge of a court of a State or Territory; (f) a member of a Royal Commission; (g) a staff member of the NACC; (h) the Inspector, or a person assisting the Inspector.