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An Administrator (Administrator of the Government, Officer Administering the Government) in the constitutional practice of some countries in the Commonwealth is a person who fulfils a role similar to that of a Governor or a Governor-General. Temporary Administrators Usually, the office of administrator is a temporary appointment, for periods during which the governor is incapacitated, outside the territory, or otherwise unable to perform his/her duties. The process for selecting Administrators varies from country to country. Canada The Chief Justice of Canada is usually made Administrator, or in his absence the senior puisne judge of the Supreme Court of Canada. Links: Australia Main article: Administrator (Australia) In the Commonwealth of Australia, the Administrator, usually called the Administrator of the Commonwealth, is by convention the longest-serving state Governor. In the states of Australia, executive authority generally passes to an Administrator, who is usually by default the Chief Justice of the states Supreme Court or the next most senior justice. In 2001, the Constitution of Queensland was amended to restore the office of Lieutenant-Governor in that state. In the Northern Territory, the office of Administrator is a permanent appointment, and since the territory was granted self-government in 1978, the office of Administrator has become a largely ceremonial appointment, like that of the Governor in each State. Unlike the Governors, who are appointed by the Sovereign on advice of the Premier, the Administrator is appointed by the Governor-General on advice of the Prime Minister after consultation with the Chief Minister. There is no administrator in the Australian Capital Territory and the Chief Minister is elected by the Legislative Assembly. Links: New Zealand Under the Letters Patent Constituting the Office of Governor-General of New Zealand 1986, the Chief Justice of New Zealand is made Administrator, followed by the President of the Court of Appeal, and then the Senior Judge of that same court followed by the puisne judges of that Court in order of senority by appointment to that Court or the High Court. This order has become somewhat anomalous since the creation of the Supreme Court given that the judges of that Court are in fact senior to their colleagues on the Court of Appeal. However, the Supreme Court Act 2003 specifically leaves the Letters Patent unchanged. Links: Papua-New Guinea The head of the colonial administration was called the Administrator of Papua-Guinea before independence in 1975. The appointment was by the Governor-General of Australia on the advice of the Australian Minister of External Territories. Hong Kong When Hong Kong was a British crown colony the Chief Secretary (Colonial Secretary before 1976) would be the Acting Governor in the absence of the Governor, followed by the Financial Secretary and the Attorney General. The practice has remained after the transfer of sovereignty to the People's Republic of China. Rotation takes place between the Chief Secretary, the Financial Secretary and the Secretary for Justice as the Acting Chief Executive. Rhodesia When the Colony of Rhodesia unilaterally declared independence from the United Kingdom in 1965, the Government of Prime Minister Ian Smith ignored the Governor of Rhodesia, Sir Humphrey Gibbs, and instead appointed Deputy Prime Minister Clifford Dupont as Officer Administrating the Government. Dupont retained the administrator title until 1970, when Rhodesia was declared a Republic, after which the same Dupont became President of Rhodesia; only later in 1980 was the country officially decolonised and became Zimbabwe. Permanent Administrators The term Administrator is also used for a permanent officer representing HM where appointment of a Governor would be inappropriate, and also for representatives of a Governor. United Kingdom overseas possessions Australia New Zealand | |||||||
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