Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

DEFENCE ACT 1903 - SECT 9C

             (1)  The Minister may appoint an officer who is eligible for appointment to the office of Chief of the Defence Force, Vice Chief of the Defence Force or an office of service chief of an arm of the Defence Force to act in that office:

                     (a)  during a vacancy in that office; or

                     (b)  during any period, or during all periods, when the holder of that office is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the functions of his office;

but an officer appointed to act during a vacancy shall not continue so to act for more than 12 months.

             (2)  Anything done by or in relation to an officer purporting to act under an appointment under subsection (1) is not invalid merely because:

                     (a)  the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;

                     (b)  there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment;

                     (c)  the appointment had ceased to have effect; or

                     (d)  the occasion for the person to act had not arisen or had ceased.