2 Membership generally (1) A person is eligible to be a member of the association if: (a) the person is a natural person, and (b) the person has applied and been approved for membership of the association in accordance with clause 3. (2) A person is taken to be a member of the association if: (a) the person is a natural person, and (b) the person was: (i) in the case of an unincorporated body that is registered as the association - a member of that unincorporated body immediately before the registration of the association, or (ii) in the case of an association that is amalgamated to form the relevant association - a member of that other association immediately before the amalgamation, or (iii) in the case of a registrable corporation that is registered as an association - a member of the registrable corporation immediately before that entity was registered as an association. (3) A person is taken to be a member of the association if the person was one of the individuals on whose behalf an application for registration of the association under section 6 (1) (a) of the Act was made. 3 Application for membership (1) An application by a person for membership of the association: (a) must be made in writing (including by email or other electronic means, if the committee so determines) in the form determined by the committee, and (b) must be lodged (including by electronic means, if the committee so determines) with the secretary of the association. (2) As soon as practicable after receiving an application for membership, the secretary must refer the application to the committee, which is to determine whether to approve or to reject the application. (3) As soon as practicable after the committee makes that determination, the secretary must: (a) notify the applicant in writing (including by email or other electronic means, if the committee so determines) that the committee approved or rejected the application (whichever is applicable), and (b) if the committee approved the application, request the applicant to pay (within the period of 28 days after receipt by the applicant of the notification) the sum payable under this constitution by a member as entrance fee and annual subscription. (4) The secretary must, on payment by the applicant of the amounts referred to in subclause (3) (b) within the period referred to in that provision, enter or cause to be entered the applicant’s name in the register of members and, on the name being so entered, the applicant becomes a member of the association. 4 Cessation of membership A person ceases to be a member of the association if the person: (a) dies, or (b) resigns membership, or (c) is expelled from the association, or (d) fails to pay the annual membership fee under clause 8 (2) within 3 months after the fee is due. 5 Membership entitlements not transferable A right, privilege or obligation which a person has by reason of being a member of the association: (a) is not capable of being transferred or transmitted to another person, and (b) terminates on cessation of the person’s membership. 6 Resignation of membership (1) A member of the association may resign from membership of the association by first giving to the secretary written notice of at least 1 month (or any other period that the committee may determine) of the member’s intention to resign and, on the expiration of the period of notice, the member ceases to be a member. (2) If a member of the association ceases to be a member under subclause (1), and in every other case where a member ceases to hold membership, the secretary must make an appropriate entry in the register of members recording the date on which the member ceased to be a member. 7 Register of members (1) The secretary must establish and maintain a register of members of the association (whether in written or electronic form) specifying the name and postal, residential or email address of each person who is a member of the association together with the date on which the person became a member. (2) The register of members must be kept in New South Wales: (a) at the main premises of the association, or (b) if the association has no premises, at the association’s official address. (3) The register of members must be open for inspection, free of charge, by any member of the association at any reasonable hour. (4) A member of the association may obtain a copy of any part of the register on payment of a fee of not more than $5 for each page copied. (5) If a member requests that any information contained on the register about the member (other than the member’s name) not be available for inspection, that information must not be made available for inspection. (6) A member must not use information about a person obtained from the register to contact or send material to the person, other than for: (a) the purposes of sending the person a newsletter, a notice in respect of a meeting or other event relating to the association or other material relating to the association, or (b) any other purpose necessary to comply with a requirement of the Act or the Regulation. (7) If the register of members is kept in electronic form: (a) it must be convertible into hard copy, and (b) the requirements in subclauses (2) and (3) apply as if a reference to the register of members is a reference to a current hard copy of the register of members. 8 Fees and subscriptions (1) A member of the association must, on admission to membership, pay to the association a fee of $80 or, if some other amount is determined by the committee, that other amount. (2) In addition to any amount payable by the member under subclause (1), a member of the association must pay to the association an annual membership fee of $20 or, if some other amount is determined by the committee, that other amount: (a) except as provided by paragraph (b), before the first day of the financial year of the association in each calendar year, or (b) if the member becomes a member on or after the first day of the financial year of the association in any calendar year—on becoming a member and before the first day of the financial year of the association in each succeeding calendar year. 9 Members’ liabilities The liability of a member of the association to contribute towards the payment of the debts and liabilities of the association or the costs, charges and expenses of the winding up of the association is limited to the amount, if any, unpaid by the member in respect of membership of the association as required by clause 8. 10 Resolution of disputes (1) A dispute between a member and another member (in their capacity as members) of the association, or a dispute between a member or members and the association, are to be referred to a Community Justice Centre for mediation under the Community Justice Centres Act 1983. (2) If a dispute is not resolved by mediation within 3 months of the referral to a Community Justice Centre, the dispute is to be referred to arbitration. (3) The Commercial Arbitration Act 2010 applies to a dispute referred to arbitration. 11 Disciplining of members (1) A complaint may be made to the committee by any person that a member of the association: (a) has refused or neglected to comply with a provision or provisions of this constitution, or (b) has wilfully acted in a manner prejudicial to the interests of the association. (2) The committee may refuse to deal with a complaint if it considers the complaint to be trivial or vexatious in nature. (3) If the committee decides to deal with the complaint, the committee: (a) must cause notice of the complaint to be served on the member concerned, and (b) must give the member at least 14 days from the time the notice is served within which to make submissions to the committee in connection with the complaint, and (c) must take into consideration any submissions made by the member in connection with the complaint. (4) The committee may, by resolution, expel the member from the association or suspend the member from membership of the association if, after considering the complaint and any submissions made in connection with the complaint, it is satisfied that the facts alleged in the complaint have been proved and the expulsion or suspension is warranted in the circumstances. (5) If the committee expels or suspends a member, the secretary must, within 7 days after the action is taken, cause written notice to be given to the member of the action taken, of the reasons given by the committee for having taken that action and of the member’s right of appeal under clause 12. (6) The expulsion or suspension does not take effect: (a) until the expiration of the period within which the member is entitled to appeal against the resolution concerned, or (b) if within that period the member exercises the right of appeal, unless and until the association confirms the resolution under clause 12, whichever is the later. 12 Right of appeal of disciplined member (1) A member may appeal to the association in general meeting against a resolution of the committee under clause 11, within 7 days after notice of the resolution is served on the member, by lodging with the secretary a notice to that effect. (2) The notice may, but need not, be accompanied by a statement of the grounds on which the member intends to rely for the purposes of the appeal. (3) On receipt of a notice from a member under subclause (1), the secretary must notify the committee, which is to convene a general meeting of the association to be held within 28 days after the date on which the secretary received the notice. (4) At a general meeting of the association convened under subclause (3): (a) no business other than the question of the appeal is to be transacted, and (b) the committee and the member must be given the opportunity to state their respective cases orally or in writing, or both, and (c) the members present are to vote by secret ballot on the question of whether the resolution should be confirmed or revoked. (5) The appeal is to be determined by a simple majority of votes cast by members of the association.