(1) The Speaker may appoint a person as the chairperson of the electoral commission only if the person—
(a) is or has been a judge; or
(b) has been a justice of the High Court; or
(c) has been the head of service; or
(d) has been a director-general of an administrative unit; or
(e) has been a chief executive officer (however described) of a territory instrumentality; or
(f) has been a statutory office-holder; or
(g) has been a Commonwealth agency head; or
(h) has been a member of—
(i) the electoral commission; or
(ii) an authority of the Commonwealth or a State that the Speaker is satisfied corresponds to the electoral commission; or
(i) is a person who—
(i) is a lawyer; and
(ii) has been a lawyer for at least 5 years; and
(iii) the Speaker is satisfied has held a senior position in the legal profession; or
(j) is a person who the Speaker is satisfied—
(i) has held, for at least 5 years, a senior position—
(A) as an academic; or
(B) in business; or
(C) in a profession; and
(ii) has the knowledge and experience to exercise the functions of chairperson.
(2) In this section:
"Commonwealth agency head" means an agency head under the Public Service Act 1999
(Cwlth), section 7 (Interpretation).
Note The Public Service Act 1999
(Cwlth), s 7, defines agency head as—
(a) the secretary of a department; or
(b) the head of an executive agency; or
(c) the head of a statutory agency.
"judge" means—
(a) a judge of the Supreme Court; or
(b) a judge of the Supreme Court of a State; or
(c) a judge of the Federal Court or Family Court.
(3) In this section, a reference to a person who was a "director-general "of an administrative unit includes a reference to someone who was a chief executive of an administrative unit.
Note State includes the Northern Territory (see Legislation Act
, dict, pt 1).