Commonwealth Numbered Acts

ADVISORY COUNCIL FOR INTER-GOVERNMENT RELATIONS ACT 1976 No. 106 of 1976 - SECT 12

12. (1) The Prime Minister may appoint a member, being one of the members
referred to in paragraph 8 (2) (k), to act as Chairman of the Council during a
period, or during all periods, when-

   (a)  there is a vacancy in the office of Chairman, whether or not an
        appointment has previously been made to the office of Chairman; or

   (b)  the Chairman is absent from duty or from Australia or, for any reason,
        is unable to perform the functions of his office, but a person acting
        as Chairman during a vacancy in the office of Chairman shall not
        continue so to act for more than 12 months.

(2) The Prime Minister may at any time terminate the appointment of an
acting Chairman.

(3) The Prime Minister shall, before appointing an acting Chairman or
terminating the appointment of an acting Chairman, consult with the Premiers
of the participating States.

(4) Where-

   (a)  a person is acting as Chairman by reason of the Chairman's absence
        from duty or from Australia, or his inability to perform the functions
        of his office; and

   (b)  the office of Chairman becomes vacant while that person is so acting,
        that person may continue so to act until the Prime Minister otherwise
        directs, the vacancy is filled or a period of 12 months from the date
        on which the vacancy occurred expires, whichever first happens.

(5) The appointment of an acting Chairman ceases to have effect if he ceases
to be one of the members referred to in paragraph 8 (2) (k) or he resigns the
appointment by writing signed by him and delivered to the Prime Minister.

(6) While the appointment of a person to act as Chairman remains in force, he
has all the powers, and shall perform all the functions, of the Chairman.