Queensland Consolidated Acts Queensland Consolidated Acts(1) In an Act—
(a) a reference to a Minister is a reference to a Minister of the State; and
(b) a reference to a particular Minister by title, or to the Minister without specifying a particular Minister by title, includes a reference to another Minister, or member of the Executive Council, who is acting for the Minister.
(2) In a provision of an Act, a reference to the Minister without specifying a particular Minister by title is a reference to—
(a) the Minister administering the provision; or
(b) if, for the time being, different Ministers administer the provision in relation to different matters—
(i) if only 1 Minister administers the provision in relation to the relevant matter—the Minister; or
(ii) if 2 or more Ministers administer the provision in relation to the relevant matter—any 1 of the Ministers; or
(c) if paragraph (b) does not apply and, for the time being, 2 or more Ministers administer the provision—any 1 of the Ministers.
(3) If a provision of an Act refers to a Minister and specifies the Minister merely by reference to the fact that the Minister administers a specified Act or enactment, subsection (2) applies as if references in paragraphs (a) to (c) to the provision were references to the specified Act or enactment.
(4) If an Act defines the expression 'Minister' or 'the Minister' for the purposes of the Act or a provision of the Act in a way that does not specify a particular Minister by title, subsections (2) and (3) apply to the provision despite that definition of the expression.
(5) In an Act, a reference to a specified Minister who no longer exists—
(a) is a reference to the Minister specified by notification by the Governor in Council; and
(b) includes another Minister, or a member of the Executive Council, who is acting for the specified Minister.
(6) In an Act, a reference to a department is a reference to an entity that is a department of government under the Public Service Act 2008.
(7) In a provision of an Act, a reference to the department without specifying a particular department of government by name is a reference to—
(a) if, for the time being, different Ministers administer the provision in relation to different matters—the department of government that—
(i) deals with the relevant matter; and
(ii) is administered by the Minister or Ministers administering the provision in relation to the matter; or
(b) in any other case—the department of government that—
(i) deals with the matters to which the provision relates; and
(ii) is administered by the Minister or Ministers for the time being administering the provision.
(8) In an Act, a reference to a specified department of government that no longer exists is a reference to the department specified by notification by the Governor in Council.
(9) If a provision of an Act refers to a department of government and specifies the department by reference to the administration (however described) of a specified Act or enactment, subsection (7) applies as if references in paragraphs (a) and (b) to the provision were references to the specified Act or enactment.
(10) In an Act, a reference to a chief executive is a reference to a chief executive of a public sector unit.
(11) In a provision of an Act, a reference to the chief executive without specifying a particular public sector unit by name is a reference to the chief executive of—
(a) if, for the time being, different Ministers administer the provision in relation to different matters—the public sector unit that—
(i) deals with the relevant matter; and
(ii) is administered by the Minister or Ministers administering the provision in relation to the matter; or
(b) in any other case—the public sector unit that—
(i) deals with the matters to which the provision relates; and
(ii) is administered by the Minister or Ministers for the time being administering the provision.
(12) If a provision of an Act refers to a chief executive by reference to the administration (however described) of a specified Act or enactment, subsection (11) applies as if references in paragraph (a) or (b) to the provision were references to the specified Act or enactment.
(13) To remove any doubt, it is declared that if—
(a) a provision of an Act is administered by 2 or more Ministers; and
(b) under this section, the provision authorises or requires anything to be done by or in relation to any 1 of the Ministers;
the provision does not authorise or require it to be done in a particular case by or in relation to more than 1 of the Ministers.