Part 6Parliamentary Counsel Office
Chief Parliamentary Counsel and employees of PCO
135Chief Parliamentary Counsel
The Chief Parliamentary Counsel is the chief executive of the PCO and is responsible to the Attorney-General for—
- carrying out the functions, duties, and powers of the PCO; and
- the general conduct of the PCO; and
- managing the activities of the PCO efficiently, effectively, and economically.
However, in matters relating to decisions on individual employees, the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is not responsible to the Attorney-General and must act independently.
The Chief Parliamentary Counsel—
- must hold a legal qualification:
- is appointed by the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Prime Minister:
- holds office for the period, which may not exceed 7 years, that is specified in the instrument by which the Chief Parliamentary Counsel is appointed:
- is eligible for reappointment from time to time:
- may resign from office by written notice to the Attorney-General.
The Chief Parliamentary Counsel may at any time be removed or suspended from office by the Governor-General for inability to perform the functions of the office, bankruptcy, neglect of duty, or misconduct proved to the satisfaction of the Governor-General.
Compare
- 2012 No 119 s 66