Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

CRIMES (HOSTAGES) ACT 1989 - SECT 8

(1)

A person who, at any time after the Convention enters into force for Australia, commits an act of hostage-taking is guilty of an offence against this subsection.

(2)

The punishment for an offence against subsection (1) is imprisonment for life or for any lesser term.

(3)

Subject to section 9, a person shall not be charged with an offence against this Act unless:

(a)

the act alleged to constitute the offence was committed:

(i)

in Australia; or

(ii)

on an Australian ship or an Australian aircraft, whether in or outside Australia; or

(b)

where the act alleged to constitute the offence was committed outside Australia (otherwise than on an Australian ship or an Australian aircraft):

(i)

the person was, at the time the act was committed, an Australian citizen;

(ii)

the person is present in Australia; or

(iii)

the act was committed in order to compel a legislative, executive or judicial institution in Australia to do, or abstain from doing, any act.