- Criminal Code Act 1995
- Contents
- An Act relating to the criminal law
- Chapter 1—Codification
- Division 1
- Chapter 2—General principles of criminal responsibility
- Part 2.1—Purpose and application
- Part 2.2—The elements of an offence
- Part 2.3—Circumstances in which there is no criminal responsibility
- Part 2.4—Extensions of criminal responsibility
- Part 2.5—Corporate criminal responsibility
- Part 2.6—Proof of criminal responsibility
- Part 2.7—Geographical jurisdiction
- Chapter 4—The integrity and security of the international community and foreign governments
- Chapter 5—The security of the Commonwealth
- Chapter 7—The proper administration of Government
- Chapter 8—Offences against humanity and related offences
- Chapter 9—Dangers to the community
- Chapter 10—National infrastructure
- Notes to the Criminal Code Act 1995
- Table of Acts
- Table of Amendments
Criminal Code Act 1995
Act No. 12 of 1995 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 7 June 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 50 of 2010
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
Contents
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 The Criminal Code............................................................................1 3A External Territories............................................................................1 3B Offshore installations.........................................................................1 4 Definitions.........................................................................................1 5 Regulations........................................................................................2 Schedule—The Criminal Code 3 Chapter 1—Codification 3 Division 1 3
1.1 Codification.......................................................................................3 Chapter 2—General principles of criminal responsibility 4 Part 2.1—Purpose and application 4 Division 2 4
2.1 Purpose..............................................................................................4
2.2 Application........................................................................................4
2.3 Application of provisions relating to intoxication .............................4
Part 2.2—The elements of an offence 5 Division 3—General 5
3.1 Elements............................................................................................5
3.2 Establishing guilt in respect ofoffences............................................5 Division 4—Physical elements 6
4.1 Physicalelements..............................................................................6
4.2 Voluntariness.....................................................................................6
4.3 Omissions..........................................................................................7 Division 5—Fault elements 8
5.1 Fault elements....................................................................................8
5.2 Intention ............................................................................................8
5.3 Knowledge ........................................................................................8
5.4 Recklessness......................................................................................8
5.5 Negligence.........................................................................................9
5.6 Offences that do not specify fault elements.......................................9 Division 6—Cases where fault elements are not required 10
6.1 Strict liability...................................................................................10
6.2 Absolute liability.............................................................................10
Part 2.3—Circumstances in which there is no criminal responsibility 11
Division 7—Circumstances involving lack of capacity 11
7.1 Children under 10............................................................................11
7.2 Children over 10 but under 14.........................................................11
7.3 Mental impairment..........................................................................11
Division 8—Intoxication 13
8.1 Definition—self-induced intoxication.............................................13
8.2 Intoxication (offences involving basic intent) .................................13
8.3 Intoxication (negligence as fault element).......................................14
8.4 Intoxication (relevance to defences)................................................14
8.5 Involuntary intoxication ..................................................................15
Division 9—Circumstances involving mistake or ignorance 16
9.1 Mistake or ignorance of fact (fault elements other than negligence) ......................................................................................16
9.2 Mistake of fact (strict liability)........................................................16
9.3 Mistake or ignorance of statute law.................................................17
9.4 Mistake or ignorance of subordinate legislation..............................17
9.5 Claim of right ..................................................................................18
Division 10—Circumstances involving external factors 19
10.1 Intervening conduct or event...........................................................19
10.2 Duress..............................................................................................19
10.3 Sudden or extraordinary emergency................................................19
10.4 Self-defence.....................................................................................20
10.5 Lawful authority..............................................................................21
Part 2.4—Extensions of criminal responsibility 22
Division 11 22
11.1 Attempt............................................................................................22
11.2 Complicity and common purpose....................................................23 11.2A Joint commission.............................................................................24
11.3 Commission by proxy......................................................................26
11.4 Incitement........................................................................................26
11.5 Conspiracy.......................................................................................27
11.6 References in Acts to offences ........................................................29
Part 2.5—Corporate criminal responsibility 30
Division 12 30
12.1 General principles............................................................................3
This compilation was prepared on 7 June 2010 taking into account amendments up to Act No. 50 of 2010
The text of any of those amendments not in force on that date is appended in the Notes section
The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section
Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing, Attorney-General’s Department, Canberra
1 Short title [see Note 1].......................................................................1 2 Commencement [see Note 1].............................................................1 3 The Criminal Code............................................................................1 3A External Territories............................................................................1 3B Offshore installations.........................................................................1 4 Definitions.........................................................................................1 5 Regulations........................................................................................2 Schedule—The Criminal Code 3 Chapter 1—Codification 3 Division 1 3
1.1 Codification.......................................................................................3 Chapter 2—General principles of criminal responsibility 4 Part 2.1—Purpose and application 4 Division 2 4
2.1 Purpose..............................................................................................4
2.2 Application........................................................................................4
2.3 Application of provisions relating to intoxication .............................4
Part 2.2—The elements of an offence 5 Division 3—General 5
3.1 Elements............................................................................................5
3.2 Establishing guilt in respect ofoffences............................................5 Division 4—Physical elements 6
4.1 Physicalelements..............................................................................6
4.2 Voluntariness.....................................................................................6
4.3 Omissions..........................................................................................7 Division 5—Fault elements 8
5.1 Fault elements....................................................................................8
5.2 Intention ............................................................................................8
5.3 Knowledge ........................................................................................8
5.4 Recklessness......................................................................................8
5.5 Negligence.........................................................................................9
5.6 Offences that do not specify fault elements.......................................9 Division 6—Cases where fault elements are not required 10
6.1 Strict liability...................................................................................10
6.2 Absolute liability.............................................................................10
Part 2.3—Circumstances in which there is no criminal responsibility 11
Division 7—Circumstances involving lack of capacity 11
7.1 Children under 10............................................................................11
7.2 Children over 10 but under 14.........................................................11
7.3 Mental impairment..........................................................................11
Division 8—Intoxication 13
8.1 Definition—self-induced intoxication.............................................13
8.2 Intoxication (offences involving basic intent) .................................13
8.3 Intoxication (negligence as fault element).......................................14
8.4 Intoxication (relevance to defences)................................................14
8.5 Involuntary intoxication ..................................................................15
Division 9—Circumstances involving mistake or ignorance 16
9.1 Mistake or ignorance of fact (fault elements other than negligence) ......................................................................................16
9.2 Mistake of fact (strict liability)........................................................16
9.3 Mistake or ignorance of statute law.................................................17
9.4 Mistake or ignorance of subordinate legislation..............................17
9.5 Claim of right ..................................................................................18
Division 10—Circumstances involving external factors 19
10.1 Intervening conduct or event...........................................................19
10.2 Duress..............................................................................................19
10.3 Sudden or extraordinary emergency................................................19
10.4 Self-defence.....................................................................................20
10.5 Lawful authority..............................................................................21
Part 2.4—Extensions of criminal responsibility 22
Division 11 22
11.1 Attempt............................................................................................22
11.2 Complicity and common purpose....................................................23 11.2A Joint commission.............................................................................24
11.3 Commission by proxy......................................................................26
11.4 Incitement........................................................................................26
11.5 Conspiracy.......................................................................................27
11.6 References in Acts to offences ........................................................29
Part 2.5—Corporate criminal responsibility 30
Division 12 30
12.1 General principles............................................................................3 Contents