The Parliament of the

Commonwealth of Australia

THE SENATE

Presented and read a first time

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Bill (No. 1) 1999

No. , 1999

(Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Affairs)

A Bill for an Act to amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, and for related purposes

ISBN: 0642 407231

Contents

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989 3

A Bill for an Act to amend the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989, and for related purposes

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act (No. 1) 1999.

2 Commencement (1) Subject to subsection (2), this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

(2) If Schedule 2 to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 1996 commences on or after the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, then the amendments made by Schedule 1 to this Act commence immediately after the commencement of Schedule 2 to the Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Amendment Act 1996.

3 Schedule(s) Subject to section 2, each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.

Schedule 1--Amendments

Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Commission Act 1989

1 Section 27

Repeal the section, substitute:

27 Constitution of the Commission (1) The Commission consists of the members appointed by the Minister under this section.

(2) The Minister must appoint as members of the Commission the persons elected under Division 7 of Part 3 to represent the several zones.

Note: A Commissioner who is elected as the Commission Chairperson ceases to hold office under Division 7 of Part 3 and as a Regional Councillor. See section 31A.

2 At the end of section 31A

Add:

(3) A Commissioner who is elected as the Commission Chairperson:

(a) ceases to hold office as a person elected under Division 7 of Part 3 to represent a zone; and

(b) ceases to hold office as a Regional Councillor.

Note: The vacated offices will be filled in accordance with the procedures set out in the zone election rules and the Regional Council election rules.

3 After subsection 39(1A)

Insert:

(1AA) A Commission Chairperson who resigns under subsection (1A) is taken to have also resigned as a member of the Commission.