RAAus Public Officer

[Admin]

The resignation of our former Administraton Manager (Sue Perakovic) on June 13th has left vacant our position of Public Officer. This mandatory position serves as the contact between the Association and the A.C.T.’s Office of Regulatory Services (ORS). Our Constitution is silent on the procedure for appointing a Public Officer however, Clause 6.3 of the ORS’s Model Rules specifies that the Board has to appoint a replacement within fourteen days.

 

The Secretary declared yesterday that the General Manager, Mark Clayton, has now been appointed by the Board to take over this role.

 

 

[facthunter]

I would not see anything contentious in that. Book keeping almost. The requirements are spelled out. Nev

 

 

[Pete Greed]

The Victorian Incorporations Act has just changed and the Secretary is responsible for submitting the financial return to the Office of Fair Trading. Makes more sense.

 

Pete

 

 

[facthunter]

It is incorporated in the ACT isn't it? Nev

 

 

[kaz3g]

Yes. The ACT Act applies.

 

Kaz

 

 

[FlyingVizsla]

The Public Officer has to be over 18yrs and reside in the ACT (that means none of the Board members are suitable). This person is the contact for the Office of Regulatory Services for any information (legislation changes, returns required, lodged etc). The Public Officer lodges the Annual Return which includes the Audited accounts, among other things. The position does carry some responsibility - The Public Officer must "certify under 79(1)(e) of the Act that the particulars ..... are true and correct ...." In recent years this has not been the case (membership numbers overstated, some anomalies in the books).

 

The Public Officer is also responsible for conveying the changes and responsibilities under the Act to the organisation and lodging returns (changes of office bearers, etc). I regarded it as a senior position and was a little concerned that it had been left to the Office Manager, who has no direct authority with the Board who are charged with keeping the organisation compliant. I am much happier to see the GM has the position.

 

Sue