Section 13

For the purposes of this Act, there is established a Tribunal for the Maintenance of Parents consisting of a president, up to 4 deputy presidents, and such number of members (not being less than 2), as the Minister may think fit.

The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal is to be appointed by the Minister and upon appointment the names of the president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal must be published in the Gazette.

The president and every deputy president of the Tribunal must possess the qualifications required for a District Judge under section 9(3) of the State Courts Act 1970 or be a District Judge appointed under section 9(1) of that Act.

A deputy president of the Tribunal has and may exercise and perform all the powers, duties and functions of the president of the Tribunal conferred by this Act, subject to any limitation imposed by the president.

Three members of the Tribunal, one of whom must be the president or a deputy president, form a quorum, and the opinion of the majority of the Tribunal present is decisive upon any matter, except that in the case of an equality the president or a deputy president is to decide which opinion prevails.

The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal holds office for a period of 3 years or for a shorter period determined by the Minister and is eligible for re‑appointment.

The president, a deputy president or a member of the Tribunal must vacate his or her office where —

Where a person ceases to be the president, a deputy president or a member of the Tribunal, the Minister must (as soon as is reasonably practicable) take steps to fill the vacancy, but the existence of any vacancy in the Tribunal does not invalidate the acts of the Tribunal.

If the president, a deputy president or any member of the Tribunal is for the time being unable to perform the duties of his or her office, either generally or in relation to any particular proceedings, the Minister may appoint another person to discharge the duties of the president, a deputy president or that member for any period, not exceeding 6 months at one time, or (as the case may be) in relation to those proceedings; and a person so appointed has, during that period or in relation to those proceedings, the same powers as the person in whose place he or she is appointed.

The president, every deputy president and every member of the Tribunal is deemed to be a public servant within the meaning of the Penal Code 1871 and the proceedings of the Tribunal are deemed to be judicial proceedings.

The president, every deputy president and the members of the Tribunal are to be paid the salaries, fees and allowances determined by the Minister.

The Minister may appoint a Secretary to the Tribunal, conciliation officers and any other officers and employees of the Tribunal that may be necessary.

The exercise of the powers of the Tribunal is not affected by any vacancy in the membership of the Tribunal if a quorum is present at the commencement of the proceedings.