HIGH COMMISSIONER

No. 22 of 1909.

An Act to provide for the Office of High Commissioner of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom.

[Assented to 13th December, 1909.]

BE it enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:—

Short title.

1. This Act may be cited as the High Commissioner Act 1909.

High Commissioner.

See Can. 49 Vic. c. 16, s. 1.

Vict. No. 1061, s. 3.

2. The Governor-General may appoint some person to be the High Commissioner of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom.

Term of office.

Vict. ib. s. 5.

3.—(1.) The High Commissioner shall be appointed to hold office, subject to this Act, for a period not exceeding five years from the date of appointment, and shall be eligible for re-appointment.

(2.) The High Commissioner may at any time be removed from office by the Governor-General for misbehaviour or incapacity, or upon a joint address of both Houses of the Parliament.

Duties of the High Commissioner.

See Can. ib. s. 2.

4. The High Commissioner shall—

(а) act as representative and resident agent of the Commonwealth in the United Kingdom, and in that capacity exercise such powers and perform such duties as are conferred upon and assigned to him by the Governor-General;

(b) carry out such instructions as he receives from the Minister respecting the commercial, financial, and general interests of the Commonwealth and the States in the United Kingdom and elsewhere.

High Commissioner if directed by Governor-General to act for States.

5. The High Commissioner, for the purpose of more economically and effectively advancing the material interests and welfare of every part of Australia, shall also, if the Governor-General so directs, perform for the States functions and duties similar to those hereinbefore described and similar to those now discharged by the Agents-General of the States.

Salary and allowances of High Commissioner.

Vict. No. 1061, s. 7.

6.—(1.) The salary of the High Commissioner shall be Three thousand pounds a year, and shall be paid to him monthly out of the Consolidated Revenue Fund, which is hereby appropriated for that purpose accordingly.

Travelling expenses.

(2.) The High Commissioner shall be paid, out of moneys to be provided by the Parliament, the expenses, not exceeding Two thousand pounds a year, of an official residence, and such sums for travelling expenses as the Minister allows.

High Commissioner not to hold office in company.

W.A., 59 Vic. No. 7, s. 6.

7. A person appointed to be the High Commissioner shall not during his tenure of office be or act as director or agent of or hold any office in any company or syndicate whether incorporated or unincorporated or hold any other employment, or engage in any business, whether within or without the Commonwealth.

The Governor-General may appoint officers

8.—(1.) The Governor-General may, subject to the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902, appoint officers for the performance of any duties required in the execution of this Act.

(2.) The Governor-General may except any such officer from any or all of the provisions of the Public Service Act.

High Commissioner may appoint officers.

Cf. Vict. ib. ss. 13, 20.

9.—(1.) The High Commissioner may appoint officers for the performance of any duties required in the execution of this Act.

(2.) Such appointments shall be made in accordance with such instructions in that behalf as he receives from the Minister.

(3.) Every such appointment shall cease to have effect at the expiration of six months from the date of appointment, unless the Governor-General in the meantime confirms the appointment.

(4.) The salaries of such officers shall be paid out of moneys to be provided by the Parliament.

(5.) Officers so appointed shall not be subject to the Commonwealth Public Service Act 1902.

(6.) No officer so appointed shall be entitled to any compensation by reason of the loss of his office or the diminution of his emoluments.

Regulations.

10. The Governor-General may make regulations, not inconsistent -with this Act, prescribing all matters which by this Act are required or permitted to be prescribed or which are necessary or convenient to be prescribed for giving effect to this Act.