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13: Privacy Commissioner
or “The Privacy Commissioner is a government official who oversees privacy matters”
You could also call this:

“A second-in-command can be appointed to help run the privacy office”

The Government can choose someone to be the Deputy Privacy Commissioner. The person in charge of this decision is called the responsible Minister, who suggests a name to the Governor-General.

When picking or removing a Deputy Commissioner, they follow most of the same rules as when choosing the Privacy Commissioner. These rules are written in a law called the Crown Entities Act 2004.

The Deputy Commissioner can do all the same jobs as the Privacy Commissioner, but the Privacy Commissioner is still in charge. If the Privacy Commissioner isn’t at work for any reason, or if no one is in that job, the Deputy can take over and do everything the Commissioner usually does.

The Deputy Commissioner gets the same protection and special rights as the Privacy Commissioner. This means they’re treated the same way when it comes to doing their job safely and without interference.

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Next up: 15: Holding of other offices

or “Restrictions on other roles for Privacy and Deputy Privacy Commissioners”
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Part 2 Privacy Commissioner
Appointment of Privacy Commissioner

14Deputy Privacy Commissioner

  1. The Governor-General may, on the recommendation of the responsible Minister, appoint a Deputy Privacy Commissioner.

  2. Part 2 of the Crown Entities Act 2004, except section 46, applies to the appointment and removal of a Deputy Commissioner in the same manner as it applies to the appointment and removal of the Commissioner.

  3. Subject to the control of the Commissioner, the Deputy Commissioner may perform or exercise all the functions, duties, and powers of the Commissioner.

  4. When there is a vacancy in the position of Commissioner or when the Commissioner is (for whatever reason) absent from duty, the Deputy Commissioner may perform or exercise all the functions, duties, and powers of the Commissioner.

  5. The Deputy Commissioner is entitled to all the protections, privileges, and immunities of the Commissioner.

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