178Appointment of Authority members

178  Appointment of Authority members Appointment by instrument  (1) Each Authority member is to be appointed by the Governor‑General by written instrument. Note: An Authority member may be reappointed: see section 33AA of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901. Eligibility for appointment  (2) To be eligible for appointment as an Authority member (other than as a standing Indigenous Authority member), an individual must, at the time of appointment:  (a) have a high level of expertise in one or more fields relevant to the Authority’s functions; and  (b) not be a member of the governing body of a relevant interest group.  (2A) To be eligible for appointment as a standing Indigenous Authority member, an individual must be an Indigenous person who, at the time of appointment:  (a) has a high level of expertise in Indigenous matters relevant to Basin water resources; and  (b) is not a member of the governing body of a relevant interest group.  (3) For the purposes of this Act, a field relevant to the Authority’s functions includes each of the following:  (a) water resource management;  (b) hydrology;  (c) freshwater ecology;  (d) resource economics;  (e) irrigated agriculture;  (f) public sector governance;  (g) financial management;  (h) Indigenous matters relevant to Basin water resources.  (4) For the purposes of this Act, an individual is a member of the governing body of a relevant interest group if:  (a) the individual is one of the persons involved in the management of another entity; and  (b) that other entity (whether incorporated or otherwise):  (i) represents one or more classes of holders of water access rights, water delivery rights or irrigation rights; or  (ii) advocates managing the Basin water resources in a particular way. Basis of appointments  (5) The Chief Executive must be appointed on a full‑time basis.  (6) An Authority member (other than the Chief Executive) must be appointed on a part‑time basis. Validation  (7) The appointment of an individual as an Authority member is not invalid because of a defect or irregularity in connection with the individual’s appointment.  (8) An act of the Authority is not invalid because of a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment of the Chief Executive, Authority Chair or any other member of the Authority.