Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

EXPORT CONTROL ACT 1982 - SECT 11H

             (1)  Subject to any contrary order of a court, if a person seizes a thing under this Part, the person must return it if:

                     (a)  the reason for its seizure no longer exists or it is decided that it is not to be used in evidence; or

                     (b)  the period of 60 days after its seizure ends;

whichever first occurs, unless the thing is forfeited or forfeitable to the Commonwealth or is the subject of a dispute as to ownership.

             (2)  At the end of the 60 days specified in subsection (1), the person must take reasonable steps to return the thing to the person from whom it was seized (or to the owner if that person is not entitled to possess it) unless:

                     (a)  proceedings in which the thing may be used in evidence were begun before the end of the 60 days and have not been completed (including an appeal to a court in relation to those proceedings); or

                     (b)  the officer may retain the thing because of an order under section 11J; or

                     (c)  the officer is otherwise authorized or required (by a law, or an order of a court, of the Commonwealth, or of a State or a Territory) to retain, destroy or dispose of the thing.