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The Guides to Social Policy Law is a collection of publications designed to assist decision makers administering social policy law. The information contained in this publication is intended only as a guide to relevant legislation/policy. The information is accurate as at the date listed at the bottom of the page, but may be subject to change. To discuss individual circumstances please contact Services Australia.

11.1.2 Delegation of powers

Context

The Registrar has delegated statutory powers under the child support legislation and other Acts to certain officers.

Act references

CSRC Act section 15, Part VII

CSA Act section 149, section 161, Part 6A

Description

The CSA Act and CSRC Act explicitly authorise the Registrar to delegate statutory powers and functions under those Acts to officers or employees within Services Australia or DSS. The CSRC Act also explicitly authorises the Registrar to delegate statutory powers to persons engaged by the Registrar, an Agency (as defined by the Public Service Act 1999), another authority of the Commonwealth, or an organisation that performs services for the Commonwealth.

The Registrar has delegated powers under written instruments issued under the CSA Act and the CSRC Act (except the power to delegate) to certain managers, directors and executive officers within Services Australia. Delegates can exercise a delegated power in their own names and according to their own discretion.

The Registrar has also authorised certain managers to review and alter decisions of all other delegates under that instrument.

The Registrar has also delegated powers for decision makers to depart from administrative assessment of child support and to obtain information and evidence to deal with change of assessment applications and to hear objections to those decisions. This delegation is subject to a power of review and alteration, with the Registrar able to change a decision made under that delegation within a period of 6 years of that decision being made.

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