HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ACT 1981 No. 24 of 1981 - SECT 7 Membership of Commission

HUMAN RIGHTS COMMISSION ACT 1981 No. 24 of 1981 - SECT 7

7. (1) The Commission shall consist of a Chairman, a Deputy Chairman and not
less than 5 or more than 9 other members.

(2) The Chairman, the Deputy Chairman and the other members shall be appointed
by the Governor-General.

(3) A member other than a member who is, and is expected to continue to be, a
Judge may be appointed either as a full-time member or as a part-time member.

(4) If the Chairman -

   (a)  is a Judge who does not devote the whole of his time to the duties of
        his office as Chairman; or

   (b)  is a part-time member, the Deputy Chairman shall be appointed as a
        full-time member.

(5) The affairs of the Commission shall, in accordance with the decisions and
subject to the directions of the Commission, be administered -

   (a)  if the Chairman -

        (i)    is a Judge who devotes the whole of his time to the duties of
               his office as Chairman; or

        (ii)   is a full-time member, by the Chairman; or

   (b)  in any other case - by the Deputy Chairman.

(6) If -

   (a)  the affairs of the Commission are required by sub-section (5) to be
        administered by the Deputy Chairman; and

   (b)  the Deputy Chairman is acting as Chairman, the Deputy Chairman shall
        continue to administer the affairs of the Commission.

(7) A person shall not be appointed as Chairman unless he is or has been a
Judge or is enrolled as a barrister or solicitor, as a barrister and
solicitor, or as a legal practitioner, of the High Court, of another federal
court or of the Supreme Court of a State or Territory.

(8) The performance of the functions or the exercise of the powers of the
Commission is not affected by reason only of any vacancy in the office of
Chairman or Deputy Chairman.