Commonwealth Consolidated Acts

ENVIRONMENT PROTECTION AND BIODIVERSITY CONSERVATION ACT 1999 - SECT 495

             (1)  If:

                     (a)  a body corporate contravenes:

                              (i)  section 489 (Providing false or misleading information to obtain approval or permit); or

                             (ii)  section 490 (Providing false or misleading information in response to a condition on an approval or permit); or

                            (iii)  section 491 (Providing false or misleading information to authorised officer etc.); and

                     (b)  an executive officer of the body knew that, or was reckless or negligent as to whether, the contravention would occur; and

                     (c)  the officer was in a position to influence the conduct of the body in relation to the contravention; and

                     (d)  the officer failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the contravention;

the officer is guilty of an offence punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a term not exceeding 2 years.

Note 1:       Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

Note 2:       Subsection 4B(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 lets a court that convicts an individual of an offence impose a fine instead of, or as well as, imprisonment. The maximum fine (in penalty units) the court can impose is 5 times the maximum term of imprisonment (in months).

             (2)  If:

                     (a)  a body corporate contravenes:

                              (i)  section 15A (Offences relating to declared World Heritage properties); or

                            (ia)  section 15C (Offences relating to National Heritage places); or

                             (ii)  section 17B (Offences relating to declared Ramsar wetlands); or

                            (iii)  section 18A (Offences relating to threatened species etc.); or

                            (iv)  section 20A (Offences relating to listed migratory species); or

                             (v)  section 22A (Offences relating to nuclear actions); or

                            (vi)  section 24A (Offences relating to marine areas); or

                           (vii)  section 27A (Offences relating to Commonwealth land); or

                          (viia)  section 27C (Offences relating to Commonwealth heritage places overseas); or

                           (viii)  section 142A (Offence of breaching conditions on approval); and

                     (b)  an executive officer of the body was reckless as to whether the contravention would occur; and

                     (c)  the officer was in a position to influence the conduct of the body in relation to the contravention; and

                     (d)  the officer failed to take all reasonable steps to prevent the contravention;

the officer is guilty of an offence.

Note:          Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.

             (3)  An offence against subsection (2) is punishable on conviction by imprisonment for a term not exceeding the term specified in the provision contravened by the body corporate.

Note:          Subsection 4B(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 lets a court that convicts an individual of an offence impose a fine instead of, or as well as, imprisonment. The maximum fine (in penalty units) the court can impose is 5 times the maximum term of imprisonment (in months).