Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) The Governor - General may appoint a person who is eligible to be appointed as Master to act as the Master:
(a) during a vacancy in the office of Master (whether or not an appointment has previously been made to the office); or
(b) during any period when the Master is absent from duty or from Australia or is, for any other reason, unable to perform the duties of the office.
(2) A person appointed to act as Master shall not continue to act for more than 12 months.
(3) Where:
(a) a perso n is acting under paragraph ( 1) (b); and
(b) the office of Master becomes vacant;
then, subject to subsection ( 2), the person may continue to act until the vacancy is filled.
(4) A person acting as Master has all the powers and duties of the Master, and the laws of the Commonwealth and the Territory (including this Act and the Rules of Court) apply in relation to the person as if the person were the Master.
(5) The Minister may determine the terms and conditions of appointment, including remuneration and allowances, of a person acting as Master.
(6) A person acting as Master may be removed or suspended from office only under section 33D.
(7) Anything done by or in relation to a person purporting to act as Master is not invalid because:
(a) the occasion for the appointment had not arisen;
(b) there was a defect or irregularity in connection with the appointment; or
(c) the appointment had ceased to have effect.