Practice Problem - the QMP is made up, but of course I am to refer to real law outside the QMP, my questions are below:

Since 1984, eligibility to be chosen or to sit as a member of a House of the New South Wales Parliament has been governed by the Qualification of Members of Parliament Act 1984 (NSW) ('the QMP Act').

Section 5 of the QMP Act provides: Any person enrolled to vote as at 6pm on the date of the issue of the writ for an election of any member or members of a House of Parliament is qualified to be nominated as a candidate in that election, except a person who is a member of the Parliament of the Commonwealth.

Sections 6-10 of the QMP Act address eligibility to sit as a member of a House of the Parliament. Section 8 provides: A person who, having been elected to a House of Parliament, holds an office of profit under the Crown (other than the office of Minister of the Crown) on or after the 8th sitting day of that House after their election, shall be incapable of sitting as a member of the House to which they were elected, and their seat shall become vacant.

Section 20 of the QMP Act provides:

(1) A bill that expressly or impliedly amends or repeals section 5 of the Act shall not be presented for royal assent unless passed by absolute majority in a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

(2) A bill that expressly or impliedly amends or repeals section 6, 7, 8, 9 or 10 of the Act shall not be presented for royal assent except with the prior written consent of the New South Wales Electoral Commissioner.

(3) A bill that expressly or impliedly amends or repeals this section shall not be presented for royal assent unless passed by absolute majority in a joint sitting of both Houses of Parliament.

The Apolitical Public Service (Exclusion from Elections) Act 2023 (NSW) was made by the New South Wales Parliament through the ordinary legislative process, namely royal assent was given by the Governor after the bill was passed by simple majorities in each House, sitting separately.

It contains one substantive section, section 3, which reads:

(1) A person who holds an office of profit under the Crown (other than the office of Minister of the Crown) shall be incapable of being chosen or of sitting as a member of a House of New South Wales Parliament.

(2) 'Office of Profit under the Crown' and 'being chosen' have the same meaning as those phrases carry in section 44 of the Australian Constitution.

My Questions: all my questions go into trying to figure out whether the Apolitical act's section is valid since I think it's trying to amend the QMP.

Can I first confirm that s20 sets out a manner and form provision that is then doubly entrenched in s20(3) --> also is it s20(3) or ss20(3)?

In which case, how does double entrenchment work practically? Would they need to repeal section 20(3) FIRST and THEN 20(1) and (2) or can you just repeal 20 altogether? AM I wrong in saying that to abide by the manner and form provision The Apolitical Act s3 would have had to abide by the manner set out in s20 (1) and (2) and (3) is only used if they wanted to repeal 20? But if they didn't want to, they could have just followed it?

I'm referring to the CVLA 1865 as my authority is that the amending law has to seek to amend the constitution, powers and/or procedures of parliament. Which one is it? How do you make/structure the argument to say it affected the powers or say it affected the procedures of parliament? Am I wrong in saying the manner and form provision applies because it is trying to amend the constitution, powers and/or procedures of parliament?

Ok, last question: On the 'office of profit under the Crown' criteria. What if you hold the office e.g. office in Department of education BUT you're on unpaid leave? Does that count as not being an office of profit anymore?

I know these are a lot of questions. A lot are follow on questions, if the main concerns can be addressed or there is a case/authority you think will be helpful to redirect me to I will already be more than grateful.