Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct No. 58 of 1979 as amended
This compilation was prepared on 28 March 2008
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 8 of 2008
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
Part I--Preliminary 1
1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1
2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1
3............ Repeal ................................................................................................. 1
3A......... Overview of Act ................................................................................. 1
4............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 3
4AA...... State offences that have a federal aspect .......................................... 10
4A......... Commissioner may specify prohibited drugs ................................... 13
5............ References in other laws ................................................................... 14
5A......... Application and extension of Act and regulations ............................ 14
5B......... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 15
Part II--Constitution, functions and powers of the Australian Federal Police 16
Division 1--Constitution, functions and laws conferring powers on members etc. 16
6............ Constitution of the Australian Federal Police .................................. 16
8............ Functions .......................................................................................... 16
8A......... Minister may direct which functions are protective service functions 18
9............ Laws conferring powers on members ............................................... 18
11.......... State and Territory writs and warrants ............................................ 20
12.......... Immunities from certain State and Territory laws ............................ 20
12A....... Immunity from State and Territory laws in relation to entry etc. of police dogs on premises etc. 20
Division 3--Powers and duties of protective service officers 22
14A....... Powers of arrest ................................................................................ 22
14B....... Use of force in making arrest etc. ..................................................... 22
14C....... Arrested person to be informed of grounds of arrest ....................... 23
14D....... Search of arrested person .................................................................. 23
14E........ How arrested person to be dealt with .............................................. 25
14F........ Release of arrested person ................................................................ 25
14G....... Relationship of Division to other laws ............................................. 26
Division 4--Powers and duties of members, special members and protective service officers relating to protective service functions 27
14H....... Definitions ........................................................................................ 27
14I......... Requirement to provide name etc. .................................................... 27
14J........ Stopping and searching ..................................................................... 28
14K....... Seizure of things found ..................................................................... 31
14L........ How seized things must be dealt with .............................................. 32
14M...... Application to magistrate ................................................................. 34
14N....... Relationship of Division to other laws ............................................. 35
Part III--Commissioner, Deputy Commissioners and AFP employees etc. 36
Division 1--Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners 36
17.......... Commissioner and Deputy Commissioners ..................................... 36
18.......... Acting Commissioner and Deputy Commissioner during vacancy .. 36
19.......... Absence etc. of Commissioner or Deputy Commissioner ............... 37
20.......... Remuneration and allowances ........................................................... 38
21.......... Leave of absence ............................................................................... 39
22.......... Termination of appointment ............................................................ 39
Division 2--AFP employees 40
Subdivision A--Engagement of AFP employees etc. 40
23.......... Employer powers etc. of Commissioner .......................................... 40
24.......... Engagement of AFP employees ........................................................ 40
25.......... Senior executive AFP employees ..................................................... 41
26.......... Continuous employment .................................................................. 41
Subdivision B--Remuneration and other terms and conditions 41
27.......... Remuneration and other conditions .................................................. 41
Subdivision C--Termination of employment 42
28.......... Termination of employment by Commissioner ............................... 42
Subdivision D--Resignation and retirement 42
30.......... Resignation ....................................................................................... 42
30A....... Resignation in anticipation of termination of employment .............. 43
31.......... Retirement upon reaching minimum retiring age ............................... 44
32.......... Retirement on invalidity grounds ..................................................... 45
33.......... Time when retirement on invalidity grounds takes effect ................ 46
34.......... Voluntary retirement for the purposes of the Superannuation Act . 48
Division 3--Consultants and independent contractors 49
35.......... Commissioner may engage consultants or independent contractors 49
Division 4--Undertakings and oaths or affirmations 50
36.......... Undertakings and oaths or affirmations ............................................ 50
Part IV--Commissioner's command powers etc. 52
Division 1--Administration and control etc. 52
37.......... General administration and control ................................................... 52
38.......... Commissioner's Orders .................................................................... 53
39.......... Compliance with Commissioner's Orders ........................................ 53
40.......... Compliance with specific directions, instructions or orders ............ 53
40A....... Self‑incrimination .............................................................................. 54
Division 2--Conferral of status of member and conferral of commissions 55
40B....... AFP employees who are members of the Australian Federal Police 55
40C....... Determination of competency or qualification requirements ........... 55
40D....... Commissioned police officers ........................................................... 55
Division 3--Special members 57
40E........ Special members ............................................................................... 57
Division 3A--Conferral of status of protective service officer 58
40EA..... AFP employees who are protective service officers ........................ 58
40EB..... Determination of competency or qualification requirements ........... 58
Division 3B--Special protective service officers 59
40EC..... Special protective service officers .................................................... 59
40ED..... Powers and duties of special protective service officers .................. 59
Division 4--Secondment 60
40F........ Secondment of AFP employees to other police forces etc. .............. 60
40G....... Effect of secondment on status as AFP employee etc. .................... 61
Division 5--Assignment and suspension of duties etc. 62
40H....... Assignment of duties etc. ................................................................. 62
40J........ Suspension from duties etc. .............................................................. 62
Division 6--Declarations of serious misconduct 64
40K....... Termination of employment for serious misconduct ....................... 64
Division 7--Submission of financial statements 65
40L........ Financial statements ......................................................................... 65
Division 8--Drug testing 66
40LA..... Alcohol screening tests ..................................................................... 66
40M...... Alcohol breath tests and prohibited drug tests ................................. 66
40N....... Alcohol breath tests and prohibited drug tests after certain incidents 67
40P........ Regulations ....................................................................................... 69
40PA..... Managers who may require alcohol screening tests .......................... 70
40Q....... Admissibility of test results etc. in legal proceedings ...................... 70
40R....... Approval of screening devices .......................................................... 70
Part V--Professional standards and AFP conduct and practices issues 72
Division 1--Preliminary 72
Subdivision A--Objects and simplified outline of Part 72
40RA.... Object of this Part ............................................................................ 72
40RB..... Simplified outline of this Part ........................................................... 72
Subdivision B--Professional standards for AFP appointees 73
40RC..... Commissioner may determine professional standards ..................... 73
Subdivision C--Unit within Australian Federal Police to undertake professional standards functions 74
40RD.... Unit to be constituted ....................................................................... 74
40RE..... Head of unit ...................................................................................... 74
40RF..... Assignment of members, and special members, to unit .................... 75
40RG.... Member or special member in unit may be directed to perform other duties 76
Subdivision D--AFP conduct issues and AFP practices issues 76
40RH.... AFP conduct issues .......................................................................... 76
40RI...... AFP practices issues ........................................................................ 77
40RJ...... Exclusion of certain employment action ........................................... 77
Subdivision E--Categories of AFP conduct issues and managers 78
40RK.... Categories of conduct ....................................................................... 78
40RL..... Categories of AFP conduct issues .................................................... 79
40RM... AFP Commissioner and Ombudsman to determine the kinds of conduct that are to be category 1, category 2 or category 3 conduct ............................................................................ 79
40RN.... Category 1 conduct ........................................................................... 79
40RO.... Category 2 conduct ........................................................................... 80
40RP..... Category 3 conduct ........................................................................... 80
40RQ.... Managers for particular categories of AFP conduct issues .............. 81
Division 2--Raising AFP conduct and practices issues with the AFP for action under Division 3 82
40SA..... Giving information that raises an AFP conduct or practices issue ... 82
40SB..... Arrangements for person in custody to give information ................. 83
40SC..... Recording and dealing with information given under section 40SA .. 84
40SD..... Commissioner may decide that AFP conduct issue should be dealt with under this Part 85
40SE...... Recording and dealing with information referred under section 40SD 86
Division 3--Dealing with AFP conduct or practices issues 87
Subdivision A--Preliminary 87
40TA.... Commissioner's orders about how AFP conduct or practices issues are dealt with 87
40TB..... Dealing with related AFP conduct issues that have different categories 88
40TC..... Training and development action ...................................................... 88
40TD.... Remedial action ................................................................................. 88
40TE..... Termination action ............................................................................ 89
Subdivision B--Discretion to take no further action in relation to issue 90
40TF..... Discretion to take no further action in relation to AFP conduct or practices issue 90
Subdivision C--Dealing with category 1 and category 2 conduct issues 92
40TG.... When Subdivision applies ................................................................ 92
40TH.... How issue is dealt with .................................................................... 92
40TI...... Action that may be taken in relation to category 1 conduct ............. 93
40TJ...... Action that may be taken in relation to category 2 conduct ............. 93
40TK.... AFP practices issue identified in course of dealing with AFP conduct issue 94
Subdivision D--Dealing with category 3 conduct issues and corruption issues 94
40TL..... When Subdivision applies ................................................................ 94
40TM... Head of unit constituted under section 40RD to notify Ombudsman of category 3 conduct issues 95
40TN.... Head of unit constituted under section 40RD generally allocates issues for investigation 95
40TO.... Commissioner must allocate issue to someone outside unit constituted under section 40RD in certain circumstances .......................................................................................................... 95
40TP..... Persons eligible to have category 3 conduct issue or corruption issue allocated to them 96
40TQ.... How category 3 conduct issue or corruption issue is dealt with ...... 96
40TR..... Recommendations that may be made in relation to category 3 conduct or corrupt conduct 97
40TS..... Investigative powers ......................................................................... 98
40TU.... Report of investigation ..................................................................... 98
40TV..... Taking action on report .................................................................... 98
40TW.... AFP practices issue identified in course of dealing with AFP conduct issue 99
Subdivision E--Dealing with AFP practices issues 99
40TX.... Commissioner to ensure that appropriate action is taken in relation to AFP practices issue 99
Division 4--Ministerially directed inquiries 100
40UA.... Minister may arrange special inquiries ........................................... 100
40UB.... Minister to inform certain persons and bodies of inquiry .............. 100
40UC.... Division 3 investigation may be suspended pending outcome of inquiry 101
40UD.... Reports of special inquiries ............................................................ 101
Division 5--Investigative powers 103
40VA.... Application of Division .................................................................. 103
40VB..... Manner of conducting investigation or inquiry .............................. 103
40VC..... Obtaining information and making inquiries ................................... 104
40VD.... Relationship with other laws .......................................................... 104
40VE..... Directions to AFP appointee ......................................................... 104
40VF..... Entering and searching AFP premises ............................................ 107
40VG.... Special powers if investigator conducting inquiry under Division 4 108
40VH.... Offences .......................................................................................... 110
Division 6--Record keeping 111
40WA... Record keeping ............................................................................... 111
40WB.... Records about corruption issues .................................................... 111
Division 7--Ombudsman review 113
40XA.... Annual reviews by Ombudsman .................................................... 113
40XB.... Ad hoc reviews by Ombudsman .................................................... 113
40XC.... Commissioner to provide information and access to documents ... 113
40XD.... Annual reports by Ombudsman ..................................................... 113
Division 8--Offences 115
40YA.... Victimisation ................................................................................... 115
40YB..... Providing false information about AFP conduct or practices issues 115
40YC..... AFP appointees to provide name, etc. ........................................... 115
Division 9--Secrecy 117
40ZA.... Secrecy ............................................................................................ 117
Part VA--Loss of certain superannuation rights and benefits 119
Division 1--Introductory 119
41.......... Definitions ...................................................................................... 119
41A....... Old law members or staff members ................................................ 123
42.......... Related offences .............................................................................. 123
42A....... Abscond .......................................................................................... 123
42B....... Charge with offence ........................................................................ 124
42C....... Conviction and quashing of conviction ........................................... 124
42D....... Property of a person ...................................................................... 125
42E........ Dealing with property .................................................................... 126
42F........ Effective control of property ......................................................... 126
42G....... Sufficient consideration .................................................................. 126
42H....... Application of Part to convictions and offences ............................ 127
42J........ Crown bound .................................................................................. 127
Division 2--Loss of superannuation: corruption offences 128
43.......... Notice of charge etc. ....................................................................... 128
44.......... Authority to apply for superannuation order ................................ 128
45.......... Application for superannuation order ............................................ 129
45A....... Application for superannuation order: evidence ............................ 129
46.......... Superannuation orders .................................................................... 130
46A....... When does a superannuation order take effect? ............................. 133
47.......... Effect of superannuation order ....................................................... 133
47A....... Superannuation orders: variation .................................................... 135
47B....... Superannuation orders: revocation ................................................. 135
Division 3A--Restraining orders 137
49A....... Application for restraining order .................................................... 137
49B....... Making of restraining orders ........................................................... 137
49C....... Restraining order may be subject to conditions .............................. 138
49D....... Affidavit of police officer needed in certain cases .......................... 139
49E........ Notice of application for restraining order ..................................... 140
49EA..... Extension of certain restraining orders ............................................ 140
49F........ Persons who may appear and adduce evidence .............................. 140
49G....... Witnesses not required to answer questions etc. in certain cases ... 141
49H....... Notice of restraining orders ............................................................ 141
49J........ Ancillary orders .............................................................................. 141
49K....... Charge on property subject to restraining order ............................. 143
49L........ Registration of restraining orders .................................................... 144
49M...... Contravention of restraining orders ................................................ 145
49N....... Restraining orders: revocation ........................................................ 145
49P........ When do restraining orders cease to have effect? ........................... 146
49Q....... Extension of period of effect of restraining orders ......................... 147
49R....... Notice of applications .................................................................... 147
Division 4--Miscellaneous 148
51.......... Person ceases to be an AFP employee: persons charged with corruption offences 148
53A....... Court may lift corporate veil etc. ................................................... 149
54.......... Amounts payable under section 46, 47, 47B or 51 ........................ 150
54A....... Multiple payments in respect of same employee contributions not allowed 151
55.......... Possible superannuation order not to be taken into account in sentencing 151
56.......... Constitution of appropriate courts ................................................ 151
Part VI--Miscellaneous 153
60A....... Secrecy ............................................................................................ 153
61.......... Awards for bravery etc. .................................................................. 154
63.......... Personation etc. of member or special member .............................. 155
63A....... Personation etc. of protective service officer or special protective service officer 155
63B....... Possession of documents etc. ......................................................... 156
64.......... Assault etc. ..................................................................................... 156
64A....... Members in uniform to wear identification numbers ..................... 156
64AAA. Protective service officers in uniform to wear identification numbers 157
64AA.... Suspended AFP employees who are members ............................... 157
64AAB. Suspended AFP employees who are protective service officers .... 158
64B....... Liability for wrongful acts of members .......................................... 158
66.......... Protection of persons in respect of work reports .......................... 159
67.......... Annual reports ................................................................................ 160
68.......... Proof of appointment, status of member etc. ................................. 160
68A....... Certificates in relation to transferred PSOs .................................... 163
69.......... Prohibition of patronage and favouritism ....................................... 164
69A....... Persons engaged overseas as employees ......................................... 164
69B....... Limited operation of Workplace Relations Act .............................. 165
69C....... Delegation ....................................................................................... 165
69D....... Secondment of persons to assist the Australian Federal Police ..... 165
69E........ Commissioner may charge for certain protective services .............. 166
70.......... Regulations ..................................................................................... 166
Part VII--Transitional 169
71.......... Interpretation of Part VII ............................................................... 169
75.......... Recognition of previous service for certain purposes .................... 169
77.......... Accrued leave .................................................................................. 169
80.......... Powers and duties in relation to Commonwealth places ................ 170
Notes 171
Notes to
the
Australian Federal Police Act 1979 Note 1 The Australian Federal Police Act 1979 as shown in this
compilation comprises Act No. 58, 1979 amended as indicated in the Tables
below. The Australian Federal Police Act 1979 was amended by
the Workplace Relations Amendment (Work Choices)
(Consequential Amendments) Regulations 2006 (No. 1) (SLI 2006 No. 50
as amended by SLI 2006 No. 119). The amendments are incorporated in this
compilation. All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or
transitional provisions prior to 7 March 2000 is not included in this
compilation. For subsequent information see Table A. Table of Acts
|
Act |
Number |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
58, 1979 |
15 June 1979 |
Ss. 1, 2, 4, 6, Div. 1 of Part IV (ss. |
|
|
|
Australian Federal Police (Consequential Amendments) Act 1979 |
155, 1979 |
28 Nov 1979 |
19 Oct 1979 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 1979, No. S206) |
-- |
|
69, 1980 |
28 May 1980 |
28 May 1980 |
-- |
|
|
22, 1981 |
9 Apr 1981 |
1 May 1982 (see s. 2 and Gazette 1982, No. S79) |
S. 3(2) |
|
|
80, 1982 |
22 Sept 1982 |
Part XI (ss. 25--30): 20 Oct 1982 (a) |
-- |
|
|
39, 1983 |
20 June 1983 |
(b) |
-- |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
117, 1984 |
18 Oct 1984 |
(see 117, 1984 below) |
-- |
|
|
91, 1983 |
22 Nov 1983 |
(c) |
-- |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
117, 1984 |
18 Oct 1984 |
(see 117, 1984 below) |
-- |
|
|
121, 1985 |
28 Oct 1985 |
28 Oct 1985 |
Ss. 19 and 20 |
|
|
117, 1984 |
18 Oct 1984 |
Ss. 1, 2 and 9: Royal Assent |
S. 19(1)--(9) and (12) |
|
|
121, 1985 |
28 Oct 1985 |
28 Oct 1985 |
Ss. 19 and 20 |
|
|
35, 1986 |
24 June 1986 |
S. 3: 1 Dec 1986 (see Gazette 1986, No. S577) |
Ss. 6(2), (3), 7(2) and (3) |
|
|
38, 1988 |
3 June 1988 |
S. 3: Royal Assent (d) |
S. 5(1) |
|
|
87, 1988 |
8 Nov 1988 |
Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent |
Ss. 7(5), 12, 24 and 87 |
|
|
A.C.T. Self‑Government (Consequential Provisions) Act 1988 |
109, 1988 |
6 Dec 1989 |
S. 32 (in part): 7 Dec 1988 (see Gazette 1988, No. S374) (e) |
S. 5 |
|
120, 1988 |
14 Dec 1988 |
Ss. 17--19: Royal Assent (f) |
S. 19(2) |
|
|
71, 1989 |
21 June 1989 |
Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent |
-- |
|
|
147, 1989 |
27 Nov 1989 |
Ss. 1--20 and 22: 4 Dec 1989 (see s. 2(1)
and Gazette 1989, No. S373) |
-- |
|
|
Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2)1989 |
153, 1989 |
17 Dec 1989 |
Ss. 1, 2, 61 and 62: Royal Assent |
Ss. 4 and |
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
28, 1991 |
4 Mar 1991 |
S. 74(1): Royal Assent (g) |
-- |
|
|
11, 1990 |
17 Jan 1990 |
Part 2 (ss. 3--5): 14 Feb 1990 (h) |
S. 5(2) |
|
|
28, 1991 |
4 Mar 1991 |
Part 2 (ss. 3--19): Royal Assent (i) |
-- |
|
|
122, 1991 |
27 June 1991 |
Ss. 4(1), 10(b) and 15--20: 1 Dec 1988 |
S. 31(2) |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
43, 1996 |
25 Oct 1996 |
Schedule 3 (item 31): 27 June 1991 (j) |
-- |
|
|
123, 1991 |
23 Aug 1991 |
Ss. 1--4: Royal Assent |
Ss. 6(2), 9 and 10(2) |
|
|
Superannuation Legislation (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 1992 |
94, 1992 |
30 June 1992 |
S. 3: 1 July 1990 |
S. 5 |
|
164, 1992 |
11 Dec 1992 |
Part 1 (ss. 1, 2) and Parts 3--11 (ss. 18--53):
8 Jan 1993 |
-- |
|
|
196, 1992 |
21 Dec 1992 |
Schedule (Part 1): 10 Mar 1993 (see Gazette 1993, No. GN17) (k) |
S. 2(6) (am. by 60, 1993, s. 4; 168, 1994, Sch. [item 17]) |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
60, 1993 |
3 Nov 1993 |
10 Mar 1993 |
-- |
|
|
168, 1994 |
16 Dec 1994 |
Schedule (item 17): Royal Assent (l) |
-- |
|
|
124, 1994 |
18 Oct 1994 |
18 Apr 1995 |
S. 29 |
|
|
182, 1994 |
19 Dec 1994 |
S. 31: 16 Jan 1995 (m) |
-- |
|
|
27, 1996 |
8 July 1996 |
5 Aug 1996 |
-- |
|
|
43, 1996 |
25 Oct 1996 |
Schedule 5 (items 22--25): Royal Assent (n) |
-- |
|
|
Workplace Relations and Other Legislation Amendment Act 1996 |
60, 1996 |
25 Nov 1996 |
Schedule 19 (items 5, 6): Royal Assent (o) |
-- |
|
20, 1997 |
7 Apr 1997 |
Schedule 1 (items 1--8): Royal Assent (p) |
-- |
|
|
Telecommunications (Interception) and Listening Device Amendment Act 1997 |
160, 1997 |
11 Nov 1997 |
Schedule 2: 1 Feb 1998 (see Gazette 1998, No. GN3) (q) |
S. 3 (rep. by 151, 1999, Sch. 2) |
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
151, 1999 |
11 Nov 1999 |
11 Nov 1999 |
-- |
|
|
48, 1998 |
29 June 1998 |
Schedule 1 (items 7--9): Royal Assent (r) |
S. 2(3) (rep. by 44, 1999, Sch. 6 [item 15]) |
|
|
as amended by |
|
|
|
|
|
Financial Sector Reform (Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act (No. 1) 1999 |
44, 1999 |
17 June 1999 |
Schedule 6 (item 16): Royal Assent (s) |
-- |
|
Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 |
146, 1999 |
11 Nov 1999 |
Schedule 1 (items 170, 171): 5 Dec 1999 (see Gazette 1999, No. S584) (t) |
-- |
|
9, 2000 |
7 Mar 2000 |
2 July 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S328) |
Sch. 3 (items |
|
|
Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000 |
137, 2000 |
24 Nov 2000 |
Ss. 1--3 and Schedule 1 (items 1, 4, 6, 7, 9--11,
32): Royal Assent |
Sch. 2 (items 418, 419) [see Table A] |
|
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 |
24, 2001 |
6 Apr 2001 |
S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 2: (u) |
S. 4(1) and (2) [see Table A] |