Coroners Act 2009

The Minister may, from time to time, appoint a person to be the deputy of a member (including the Convenor), and the Minister may revoke any such appointment.

A person is not eligible to be appointed as the deputy of a member unless the person has the same qualification that was required for appointment as that member.

In the absence of a member, the member’s deputy may, if available, act in the place of the member.

While acting in the place of a member, a person—

has all the functions of the member and is taken to be a member, and

is entitled to be paid such remuneration (including travelling and subsistence allowances) as the Minister may from time to time determine in respect of the person.

For the purposes of this clause, a vacancy in the office of a member is taken to be an absence of the member.