Defence and Veterans’ Service Commissioner Act 2026

The Commissioner may, in writing and subject to subsection (4), delegate all or any of the Commissioner’s functions or powers under this Act to:

a Deputy Commissioner; or

an Assistant Commissioner; or

a member of the staff of the Commission referred to in section 83 who is an SES employee or acting SES employee.

Sections 34AA to 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 contain provisions relating to delegations.

The Commissioner may, in writing, delegate the Commissioner’s functions or powers under subsection 52(2) (Commissioner may retain documents or things) to a member of the staff of the Commission referred to in section 83 who is:

classified as APS Level 6 or equivalent or higher; or

acting in a position usually occupied by an APS employee who is so classified.

Sections 34AA to 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 contain provisions relating to delegations.

The Commissioner may, in writing, delegate all or any of the Commissioner’s functions or powers under the following provisions:

subsections 20(5) and (6) (Commissioner may invite submissions);

section 21 (submissions may be made publicly available);

subsection 52(3) (Commissioner may retain documents or things);

section 53 (when documents and things must be returned);

classified as Executive Level 2 or equivalent or higher; or

acting in a position usually occupied by an APS employee who is so classified.

Sections 34AA to 34A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 contain provisions relating to delegations.

Despite subsection (1) and subject to section 90, the Commissioner must not delegate the Commissioner’s functions or powers under the following provisions:

section 16 (inquiries on own initiative);

section 17 (inquiries into or advice on specified matters on request by Minister);

section 18 (inquiries into implementation of Defence and Veteran Suicide Royal Commission recommendations);

subsections 22(1) and (2) (draft inquiry reports);

section 24 (final inquiry reports);

section 25 (requirements for final inquiry reports);

section 27 (follow‑up action on final inquiry report);

section 28 (certain information not to be included in inquiry reports);

section 29 (classified information reports);

section 30 (determining inquiry is a special inquiry);

section 34 (entry to premises);

section 35 (power to obtain access to documents etc. by remote means);

subsections 36(1) and (2) (search warrants);

section 37 (application for search warrants by telephone or electronic means);

section 46 (arrangements for obtaining and protecting intelligence information);

section 49 (Commissioner may disclose intelligence information);

section 50 (Commissioner may make public statements);

section 54 (non‑publication directions);

section 60 (legal professional privilege);

section 87 (annual report).

The Commissioner may delegate functions or powers under the provisions mentioned in subsection (4) to a Deputy Commissioner or an Assistant Commissioner for the purposes of a particular inquiry: see section 90.

In performing a delegated function or exercising a delegated power, the delegate must comply with any written directions of the Commissioner.