Section 8 of the Principal Act is repealed and the following section is substituted:

8.     Director, Registrar and inspectors

(1)  The Minister may appoint a State Service officer or State Service employee to be the Director of Mines.

(2)  The Director may appoint –

(a) a person to be the Registrar of Mines; and

(b) persons to be inspectors.

(3)  A person who holds the position of Director, Registrar or an inspector, may hold that position in conjunction with State Service employment.

(4)  The Director may authorise a person employed in the Department to perform the functions and exercise the powers of the Registrar.

(5)  A person who, immediately before the commencement of the Mineral Resources Development Amendment Act 2017 , held the position of Director, Registrar or an inspector continues to hold that position on the same terms and conditions.