17   Delegation

(1)  The Minister may, either generally or as otherwise provided by the instrument of delegation, by writing signed by the Minister delegate to a person any of the Minister’s powers or functions under this Act or the regulations, other than this power of delegation.

(2)  A power or function so delegated, when exercised or performed by the delegate, shall, for the purposes of this Act or the regulations, be deemed to have been exercised or performed by the Minister.

(3)  A delegation under this section may be expressed as a delegation to the person for the time being holding, or performing the duties of, a specified office under the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory.

(4)  A delegation under this section made at any time by a person who is at that time the Minister continues in force notwithstanding that at some subsequent time a different person is the Minister or there is no person who is the Minister, but such a delegation may be revoked or varied by any person who is for the time being the Minister.

(5)  A delegation under this section of a power or function does not prevent the exercise of the power or the performance of the function by the Minister.

(6)  A copy of each instrument making, varying or revoking a delegation shall be published in the Gazette.