CRIMES (HOSTAGES) ACT 1989 - SECT 8 When hostage - taking an offence

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 commits 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.