49Eligibility for appointment

49 Eligibility for appointment

(1) Subject to subsection (3), a person is eligible to be appointed as a commissioner only if—

(a) the Minister considers that the person is of good character and high standing in the community; and

(b) either—

(i) the person has extensive or specialist knowledge, expertise or experience in one or more of the fields specified in subsection (2); or

(ii) the person is or has been, or is qualified for appointment as, a judge of a Superior Court.

(2) The following fields are specified for subsection (1)(b)(i)—

(a) Government;

(b) community affairs;

(c) industrial relations;

(d) law;

(e) the dynamics of sexual assault and other gender-based violence;

(f) public sector governance or administration;

(g) public sector ethics and integrity;

(h) any other field the Minister considers relevant.

(3) Despite subsection (1), a person is not eligible to be appointed as a commissioner if the person—

(a) is, or has been at any time in the last 10 years, a member of an Australian Parliament; or

(b) is, or has been at any time in the last 10 years, a councillor of an Australian Local Council; or

(c) is a candidate for election to an Australian Parliament or an Australian Local Council; or

(d) is, or has been at any time in the last 10 years, a member of a registered political party; or

(e) is, or has been at any time in the last 10 years, registered on the register of lobbyists; or

(f) is an insolvent under administration.