Membership of the Council Statute 2004 (Cth)

MEMBERSHIP OF THE COUNCIL STATUTE 2004

The Council of the Australian National University makes the following Statute under section 50 of the Australian National University Act 1991.

Dated 13 August 2004.

The Council of the Australian National University

Name of Statute

1.         This Statute is the Membership of the Council Statute 2004.

Interpretation

1. In this Statute, unless the contrary intention appears:

Act means the Australian National University Act 1991.

Method of election of members of Council

3. (1) The Rules may provide for the method of election of the members of the Council referred to in paragraphs 10(1) (k) to (n) (inclusive) of the Act.

(2)       Notwithstanding any other provision in this Statute or the Rules, the Rules may provide for the election of members of the Council wholly or partially by electronic means, including by use of computers or the internet.

Tenure of office

1. Except as provided by the Rules, a member of the Council referred to in paragraphs 10(1) (k) to (n) of the Act holds office for a period of 2 years.

Retirement in rotation

5.(1)    The Rules may provide for the retirement in rotation of members of the Council of a particular class.

[NOTE: It is intended that, where possible, members’ terms of office should overlap.]

(2)       The Rules may provide for a maximum period during which a member may hold office.

Members of academic staff

1. The Rules may specify the persons who are to be regarded, for the purposes of section 10 of the Act, as members of the academic staff of the Institute and of the academic staff of The Faculties respectively.

Preferential voting

1. An election referred to in section 3, other than an election of a member of the Council referred to in paragraph 10(1) (k), (o) and (p) of the Act, must be conducted by a method of preferential voting.

Returning officer

1. An election to which section 7 applies must be conducted by the Vice-Chancellor, or his or her nominee, who is to be the Returning Officer for the election.

Secret ballot

1. The election referred to in section 3 (other than the election of the member of the Council referred to in paragraph 10(1) (k), (o) or (p) of the Act) must be by secret ballot.

Voting papers

10.(1) If the Rules make provision for the sending of a notice or voting paper by the Returning Officer to a member of the academic or general staff of the University, the Returning Officer may send the notice or voting paper:

(a)   by messenger to a place within the University that seems appropriate to the Returning Officer; or

(b)   by post to an address which seems appropriate to the Returning Officer; or

(c)   by electronic means to an email or internet address which seems appropriate to the Returning Officer.

1. However, if a person entitled to vote at an election held under this Statute applies to the Returning Officer personally for a voting paper at a time after voting papers have been sent in relation to the election, and before the close of the poll, the Returning Officer may deliver a voting paper to the person personally or by electronic means to the person’s email or internet address.

Resignation

1. A member of the Council appointed or elected under paragraphs 10(1) (k) to (q) of the Act may resign his or her office by notice in writing to the Council given to the Chancellor.

Power of Council to make Rules

12.       The Council may make Rules, not inconsistent with this Statute, prescribing matters required or permitted by this Statute to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Statute.

Repeal

13.       The Membership of the Council Statute as amended and in force immediately before the commencement of this Statute is repealed.