Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ....................................................................... 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Interpretation ...................................................................................... 1

4............ Copies ................................................................................................. 8

5............ Territories regarded as States .............................................................. 8

6............ Act to bind Crown .............................................................................. 8

7............ Territories ........................................................................................... 8

8............ Effect on the operation of other laws ................................................. 9

8A......... Application of the Criminal Code .................................................... 10

9............ Service on companies and registered bodies ..................................... 10

10.......... Service on other bodies corporate ..................................................... 12

11.......... Proof of service ................................................................................. 13

12.......... Effect of service ................................................................................ 15

Part 2--Service of process in civil and criminal proceedings                       16

Division 1--Initiating process in civil proceedings                                     16

13.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 16

14.......... Meaning of appearance ..................................................................... 16

15.......... Initiating process may be served in any part of Australia ................ 16

16.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 17

17.......... Time for appearance ......................................................................... 17

18.......... Appearance to state address for service ........................................... 18

19.......... Security for costs .............................................................................. 18

20.......... Stay of proceedings .......................................................................... 18

21.......... No restraint of proceedings .............................................................. 20

Division 2--Initiating process in criminal proceedings                            21

22.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 21

23.......... Initiating process .............................................................................. 21

24.......... Initiating process may be served in any part of Australia ................ 21

25.......... Time for service ................................................................................ 21

Division 3--Other process                                                                                       23

26.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 23

27.......... Other process may be served in any part of Australia ..................... 23

Part 3--Service of subpoenas                                                                                         24

Division 1--Service of subpoenas generally                                                   24

28.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 24

29.......... Subpoenas may be served in any part of Australia .......................... 24

30.......... Time for service ................................................................................ 24

31.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 25

32.......... Expenses ........................................................................................... 25

33.......... Application for relief from subpoena ............................................... 25

34.......... Subpoenas not requiring attendance ................................................. 26

35.......... Entitlement to expenses .................................................................... 27

36.......... Persons under restraint ..................................................................... 27

37.......... Issue of warrants for non‑compliance with subpoenas .................... 29

Division 2--Service of subpoenas addressed to persons in prison    30

38.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 30

39.......... Order for production ........................................................................ 30

40.......... Service of order for production ......................................................... 31

41.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 32

42.......... Expenses ........................................................................................... 32

43.......... Application for relief from subpoena ............................................... 32

44.......... Application for relief from order for production .............................. 33

45.......... Entitlement to expenses .................................................................... 35

46.......... Custody of prisoner etc. ................................................................... 35

Part 4--Service of process of tribunals                                                                     37

Division 1--Preliminary                                                                                             37

47.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 37

Division 2--Service of initiating and other process related to adjudicative functions    38

48.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 38

49.......... Meaning of appearance ..................................................................... 38

50.......... Initiating process may be served in any part of Australia ................ 39

51.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 39

52.......... Time for appearance ......................................................................... 39

53.......... Appearance to state address for service ........................................... 40

54.......... Security for costs .............................................................................. 40

55.......... Other process may be served in any part of Australia ..................... 41

Division 3--Service of subpoenas in the performance of adjudicative functions               42

Subdivision A--Service of subpoenas generally                                                  42

56.......... Application of Subdivision ............................................................... 42

57.......... Order for leave .................................................................................. 42

58.......... Subpoenas may be served in any part of Australia .......................... 43

59.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 43

60.......... Expenses ........................................................................................... 43

61.......... Application for relief from subpoena ............................................... 44

62.......... Subpoenas not requiring attendance ................................................. 45

63.......... Entitlement to expenses .................................................................... 45

64.......... Persons under restraint ..................................................................... 46

65.......... Issue of warrants for non‑compliance with subpoenas .................... 47

Subdivision B--Service of subpoenas addressed to persons in prison             48

66.......... Application of Subdivision ............................................................... 48

67.......... Order for production ........................................................................ 48

68.......... Service of order for production ......................................................... 50

69.......... Information to be provided ............................................................... 51

70.......... Expenses ........................................................................................... 51

71.......... Application for relief from subpoena ............................................... 51

72.......... Application for relief from order for production .............................. 52

73.......... Entitlement to expenses .................................................................... 54

74.......... Custody of prisoner etc. ................................................................... 54

Division 4--Service of subpoenas in the performance of investigative functions             56

Subdivision A--Service of subpoenas generally                                                  56

75.......... Application of Subdivision ............................................................... 56

76.......... Order for leave .................................................................................. 56

77.......... Application of other provisions ....................................................... 57

Subdivision B--Service of subpoenas addressed to persons in prison             57

78.......... Application of Subdivision ............................................................... 57

79.......... Order for production ........................................................................ 57

80.......... Application of other provisions ....................................................... 58

Part 5--Execution of warrants                                                                                        59

Division 1--General                                                                                                     59

81.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 59

81A....... Interpretation .................................................................................... 59

82.......... Persons subject to warrants may be apprehended ........................... 59

83.......... Procedure after apprehension ........................................................... 60

84.......... Additional provisions relating to persons under restraint ................ 62

85.......... Procedure on remand on bail ............................................................. 64

85A....... Notification when persons are released or remanded on bail ............ 65

86.......... Review .............................................................................................. 65

87.......... Entitlement to expenses .................................................................... 67

88.......... Law applicable to grant etc. of bail ................................................... 67

89.......... Custody of persons etc. ................................................................... 68

90.......... Release of persons unnecessarily detained ....................................... 69

Division 2--Execution of warrants issued by tribunals                             71

91.......... Application of Division .................................................................... 71

92.......... Application of Division 1 to certain warrants issued by tribunals .. 71

93.......... Orders for the execution of warrants ................................................ 72

94.......... Additional provisions relating to warrants issued in the performance of investigative functions            73

Division 2A--Transit through State in execution of warrant                 74

94A....... Application of Division .................................................................... 74

94B....... Effect of warrant ............................................................................... 74

94C....... Applicable laws relating to escape from custody ............................. 74

94D....... Powers of person executing the warrant ........................................... 74

Division 3--Suppression orders                                                                            75

95.......... Interpretation .................................................................................... 75

96.......... Suppression orders ........................................................................... 75

97.......... Duration etc. of suppression orders ................................................. 77

98.......... Interim suppression orders ............................................................... 77

99.......... Variation and revocation of suppression orders ............................... 78

100........ Applications for suppression orders etc. ......................................... 78

101........ Appeals against suppression orders ................................................. 80

102........ Institution of appeals ....................................................................... 81

103........ Disobedience of suppression orders ................................................. 82

Part 6--Judgments                                                                                                                83

104........ Interpretation .................................................................................... 83

105........ Enforcement of judgments ................................................................ 83

106........ Stay may be granted ......................................................................... 85

107........ Costs ................................................................................................. 85

108........ Interest .............................................................................................. 86

109........ Rules of private international law not to apply ............................... 86

Part 7--Enforcement of fines imposed by courts of summary jurisdiction 87

110........ Interpretation .................................................................................... 87

111........ Constitution of courts ...................................................................... 88

112........ Issue of warrants of apprehension ................................................... 88

113........ Execution of warrant of apprehension .............................................. 89

114........ Law applicable to grant of bail etc. ................................................... 90

115........ Proceedings before court ................................................................... 91

116........ Review of orders of committal ......................................................... 93

117........ Issue of warrant of commitment ....................................................... 94

118........ Payment of fine etc. before issue of warrant of commitment ........... 94

119........ Payment of fine after issue of warrant of apprehension .................. 95

120........ Person liable to pay 2 or more fines etc. .......................................... 97

121........ Release of person from prison on payment of fine etc. ................... 98

122........ Effect of imprisonment ..................................................................... 99

123........ Juveniles not to be imprisoned ......................................................... 99

124........ Conditions of imprisonment ............................................................. 99

125........ Application of the Removal of Prisoners (Territories) Act ........... 100

126........ Saving .............................................................................................. 100

Part 8--Miscellaneous                                                                                                      101

127........ Matters of state .............................................................................. 101

128........ Claim of public interest immunity not precluded ........................... 102

129........ Custodians to assist prisoners served with subpoenas .................. 102

130........ Jurisdiction not limited by locality ................................................. 102

131........ Constitution of courts .................................................................... 103

132........ Regulations etc. ............................................................................... 103

Notes                                                                                                                                           105

  

Notes to the Service and Execution of Process Act 1992

Note 1

The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 172, 1992 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For application, saving or transitional provisions made by the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, see Act No. 55, 2001.

All relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions prior to 6 April 2001 is not included in this compilation. For subsequent information see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Service and Execution of Process Act 1992	172, 1992	11 Dec 1992	Ss. 1 and 2: Royal Assent S. 7(2)(a) and (b): 29 June 1993 (see Gazette 1993, No. S196) Remainder: 10 Apr 1993 (see Gazette 1993, No. GN13)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994	141, 1994	28 Nov 1994	Ss. 3 (items 12-16) and 6: Royal Assent (a) S. 3 (items 17-20): 26 Dec 1994 (a)	S. 6
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997	34, 1997	17 Apr 1997	Schedule 14 (items 1-3, 6-8): Royal Assent (b) Schedule 14 (items 4, 5, 9-16): 17 Oct 1997 (b)	Sch. 14 (item 17)
Company Law Review Act 1998	61, 1998	29 June 1998	Schedule 4 (items 39-49): 1 July 1998 (see Gazette 1998, No. S317) (c)	¾
Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act 2000	9, 2000	7 Mar 2000	2 July 2000 (see Gazette 2000, No. S328)		Sch. 3 (items 20, 34, 35)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act2001	24, 2001	6 Apr 2001	S. 4(1), (2) and Schedule 44: (d)		S. 4(1) and (2) [see Table A]
Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001	55, 2001	28 June 2001	Ss. 4-14 and Schedule 3 (items 465-473): 15 July 2001 (see Gazette 2001, No. S285) (e)		Ss. 4-14 [see Note 1]
Proceeds of Crime (Consequential Amendments and Transitional Provisions) Act 2002	86, 2002	11 Oct 2002	Ss. 1-3: Royal Assent Remainder: 1 Jan 2003 (see s. 2(1) and Gazette 2002, No. GN44)		--
Crimes Legislation Enhancement Act 2003	41, 2003	3 June 2003	Schedule 2 (items 18-22): 3 Dec 2003		--
Statute Law Revision Act 2007	8, 2007	15 Mar 2007	Schedule 4 (items 25, 26): Royal Assent		--
Same‑Sex Relationships (Equal Treatment in Commonwealth Laws--General Law Reform) Act 2008	144, 2008	9 Dec 2008	Schedule 2 (items 73-75): 10 Dec 2008		--
Law and Justice (Cross Border and Other Amendments) Act 2009	77, 2009	7 Sept 2009	Schedules 1 and 2: Royal Assent		--

(a)     The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 1 (items
12-20) only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994, subsections 2(1) and (3) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (3)   Items 17 to 20 of Schedule 1 commence 28 days after this Act receives the Royal Assent.

(b)    The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 14 (items
1-17) only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997, subsections 2(1)-(3) of which provide as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.

                 (2)   Items 1, and 3 to 6, of Schedule 1, items 4, 5, and 9 to 16, of Schedule 14 and items 1 to 6, and 8 to 11, of Schedule 16 commence on a day or days to be fixed by Proclamation.

                 (3)   If the items mentioned in subsection (2) do not commence under that subsection within the period of 6 months beginning on the day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent, those items commence on the first day after the end of that period.

(c)     The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 4 (items
39-49) only of the Company Law Review Act 1998, subsection 2(2) of which provides as follows:

                 (2)   Subject to subsection (3), section 3 and Schedules 1, 2, 3 and 4 commence on a day to be fixed by Proclamation.

(d)     The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 44 only of the Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001, subsection 2(1)(a) of which provides as follows:

                 (1)   Subject to this section, this Act commences at the later of the following times:

                              (a)   immediately after the commencement of item 15 of Schedule 1 to the Criminal Code Amendment (Theft, Fraud, Bribery and Related Offences) Act 2000;

         Item 15 commenced on 24 May 2001.

(e)     The Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 was amended by Schedule 3 (items
465-473) only of the Corporations (Repeals, Consequentials and Transitionals) Act 2001, subsection 2(3) of which provides as follows:

                 (3)   Subject to subsections (4) to (10), Schedule 3 commences, or is taken to have commenced, at the same time as the Corporations Act 2001.

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted     am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 3......................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 61, 1998; No. 9, 2000; No. 55, 2001; No. 86, 2002; No. 41, 2003; No. 77, 2009
S. 8......................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 77, 2009
S. 8A...................................	ad. No. 24, 2001
S. 9......................................	am. No. 141, 1994; No. 61, 1998; No. 55, 2001; No. 8, 2007
S. 10....................................	am. No. 141, 1994; No. 61, 1998
S. 11....................................	am. No. 141, 1994
Part 2
Division 1
S. 17....................................	am. No. 34, 1997
S. 20....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Part 3
Division 1
S. 28....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
S. 33....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Division 2
S. 38....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Ss. 43, 44............................	am. No. 77, 2009
Part 4
Division 3
Subdivision A
S. 56....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
S. 61....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Subdivision B
S. 66....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Ss. 71, 72............................	am. No. 77, 2009
Division 4
Subdivision A
S. 75....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Subdivision B
S. 78....................................	am. No. 77, 2009
Part 5
Division 1
S. 81A.................................	ad. No. 41, 2003
S. 82....................................	am. No. 9, 2000
S. 84....................................	am. No. 34, 1997; No. 9, 2000; No. 24, 2001; No. 77, 2009
S. 85A.................................	ad. No. 141, 1994
Division 2
S. 92....................................	am. No. 141, 1994
Division 2A
Div. 2A of Part 5..................	ad. No. 34, 1997
Ss. 94A-94D.......................	ad. No. 34, 1997
Division 3
Ss. 95, 96............................	am. No. 144, 2008
S. 103..................................	am. No. 24, 2001
Part 7
S. 110..................................	am. No. 34, 1997
Ss. 112, 113........................	am. No. 141, 1994; No. 34, 1997
S. 119..................................	am. No. 34, 1997
S. 123..................................	am. No. 34, 1997
Part 8
S. 129..................................	am. No. 77, 2009

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act (No. 2) 1994 (No. 141, 1994)

6  Transitional provision--warrants of apprehension

Paragraph 112(3)(b) of the Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 as amended by this Act does not apply to a warrant of apprehension (within the meaning of Part 7 of that Act) issued before the commencement of item 19 of Schedule 1 to this Act.

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment Act 1997 (No. 34, 1997)

17  Application

(1)        The amendment made by item 2 applies to:

                     (a)  every warrant for the apprehension of a person:

                              (i)  that was issued in accordance with the Service and Execution of Process Act 1992 before the commencement of that item; and

                             (ii)  under which the person had not been apprehended before that commencement; and

                     (b)  every warrant for the apprehension of a person that is issued in accordance with that Act after that commencement.

(2)        The amendment made by item 10 does not apply to a warrant of apprehension (within the meaning of Part 7 of the Service and Execution of Process Act 1992) issued before the commencement of that item.

Australian Federal Police Legislation Amendment Act 2000 (No. 9, 2000)

Schedule 3

20  Definition

In this Part:

commencing time means the time when this Part commences.

34  Warrants or writs etc. may continue to be executed

If, immediately before the commencing time, any warrant, writ, order, permission or other instrument (the authority) issued under a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory could be executed by a person who was at that time a member, staff member or special member of the Australian Federal Police, the authority continues to be able to be executed at and after the commencing time by the person in his or her capacity as:

                     (a)  the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police; or

                     (b)  a Deputy Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police; or

                     (c)  an AFP employee; or

                     (d)  a special member of the Australian Federal Police;

(all within the meaning of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 as in force at and after the commencing time).

Note:          A person who is a member or staff member of the Australian Federal Police immediately before the commencing time is taken to be engaged as an AFP employee. Similarly, a person who is a special member of the Australian Federal Police immediately before the commencing time is taken to be appointed as a special member. See item 2 of this Schedule.

35  Regulations dealing with matters of a transitional or saving nature

(1)        The Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with any other provision of this Schedule, prescribing matters of a transitional or saving nature in relation to the amendments made by Schedule 1 or 2.

(2)        Regulations made under this item within one year after the commencement of this item may commence on a day earlier than the day on which they are made, but not earlier than the commencement of this item.

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 (No. 24, 2001)

4  Application of amendments

             (1)  Subject to subsection (3), each amendment made by this Act applies to acts and omissions that take place after the amendment commences.

             (2)  For the purposes of this section, if an act or omission is alleged to have taken place between 2 dates, one before and one on or after the day on which a particular amendment commences, the act or omission is alleged to have taken place before the amendment commences.