Nita Green (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Assistant Minister for Tourism) | Hansard source

I'll read it out. You could just read it yourself, but I'm going to read it out for you.

The TEMPORARY CHAIR: Senator Cash, I've already called the chamber to order and I've already said, while the minister is on her feet, interjections are disorderly. Could you please allow her to complete her answer. If you have a question, you may seek the call.

The authorisation may authorise a person to perform a function or exercise a power in relation to a specified proceeding, in relation to specified acts or omissions, or in specified circumstances. The current arrangement requires the Director of Public Prosecutions to take a leave of absence, in which case none of those powers would be performed by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

This proposal is a way of dealing with the need for a conflict to be managed by an authorised person undertaking those functions that are under section 6 of the DPP Act, such as instituting prosecutions on indictment and the power to consent to the commencement of prosecutions as required under certain legislation. The DPP has current delegation powers, but not for these types of powers and exercises of functions. The bill seeks to establish a system that allows a senior member of the DPP to perform those functions and exercise those powers because, in that case, delegation is not really appropriate.