6.1.2 Delegation of powers

Context

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

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 under Part 6A and section 161 of the CSA Act to decision makers engaged to deal with change of assessment applications and to hear objections to those decisions under Part VII of the CSRC Act. 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.