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SURVEILLANCE DEVICES ACT 2004 - NOTES

Act No. 152 of 2004 as amended

This compilation was prepared on 26 May 2009
taking into account amendments up to Act No. 32 of 2009

The text of any of those amendments not in force
on that date is appended in the Notes section

The operation of amendments that have been incorporated may be
affected by application provisions that are set out in the Notes section

Prepared by the Office of Legislative Drafting and Publishing,
Attorney‑General's Department, Canberra

  

  

  


Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                                1

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

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

3............ Purposes ............................................................................................. 1

4............ Relationship to other laws and matters .............................................. 1

5............ Schedule(s) .......................................................................................... 2

6............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

6A......... Authorisation of appropriate authorising officers ............................ 12

6B......... Authorisation of law enforcement officer ......................................... 13

7............ State offence that has a federal aspect .............................................. 13

8............ External Territories ........................................................................... 14

9............ Binding the Crown ............................................................................ 14

Part 2--Warrants                                                                                                                   15

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                           15

10.......... Types of warrant .............................................................................. 15

11.......... Who may issue warrants? ................................................................. 15

12.......... Eligible Judges ................................................................................... 15

13.......... Nominated AAT members ............................................................... 16

Division 2--Surveillance device warrants                                                        17

14.......... Application for surveillance device warrant ..................................... 17

15.......... Remote application ........................................................................... 18

16.......... Determining the application ............................................................. 18

17.......... What must a surveillance device warrant contain? ........................... 19

18.......... What a surveillance device warrant authorises ................................. 21

19.......... Extension and variation of surveillance device warrant .................... 23

20.......... Revocation of surveillance device warrant ........................................ 23

21.......... Discontinuance of use of surveillance device under warrant ............ 24

Division 3--Retrieval warrants                                                                              26

22.......... Application for retrieval warrant ...................................................... 26

23.......... Remote application ........................................................................... 27

24.......... Determining the application ............................................................. 27

25.......... What must a retrieval warrant contain? ............................................ 27

26.......... What a retrieval warrant authorises .................................................. 28

27.......... Revocation of retrieval warrant ........................................................ 29

Part 3--Emergency authorisations                                                                              31

28.......... Emergency authorisation--serious risks to person or property ...... 31

29.......... Emergency authorisation--urgent circumstances relating to recovery order            31

30.......... Emergency authorisation--risk of loss of evidence .......................... 32

31.......... Record of emergency authorisations to be made .............................. 33

32.......... Attributes of emergency authorisations ........................................... 33

33.......... Application for approval of emergency authorisation ..................... 34

34.......... Consideration of application ............................................................ 34

35.......... Judge or nominated AAT member may approve giving of emergency authorisations             36

36.......... Admissibility of evidence ................................................................. 38

Part 4--Use of certain surveillance devices without warrant                       39

37.......... Use of optical surveillance devices without warrant ........................ 39

38.......... Use of surveillance devices without warrant for listening to or recording words in limited circumstances              40

39.......... Use and retrieval of tracking devices without warrant in certain circumstances       42

40.......... Record of tracking device authorisations to be kept ......................... 44

Part 5--Extraterritorial operation of warrants                                                      46

41.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 46

42.......... Extraterritorial operation of warrants ............................................... 46

43.......... Evidence obtained from extraterritorial surveillance not to be tendered in evidence unless court satisfied properly obtained ............................................................................................ 49

Part 6--Compliance and monitoring                                                                            50

Division 1--Restrictions on use, communication and publication of information              50

44.......... What is protected information? ........................................................ 50

45.......... Prohibition on use, recording, communication or publication of protected information or its admission in evidence .......................................................................................................... 51

46.......... Dealing with records obtained by use of surveillance devices .......... 55

47.......... Protection of surveillance device technologies and methods ............ 56

48.......... Protected information in the custody of a court, tribunal or Royal Commission     57

Division 2--Reporting and record‑keeping                                                    58

49.......... Report on each warrant or authorisation .......................................... 58

50.......... Annual reports .................................................................................. 60

51.......... Keeping documents connected with warrants, emergency authorisations and tracking device authorisations         61

52.......... Other records to be kept ................................................................... 62

53.......... Register of warrants, emergency authorisations and tracking device authorisations                63

Division 3--Inspections                                                                                             66

54.......... Appointment of inspecting officers ................................................. 66

55.......... Inspection of records ........................................................................ 66

56.......... Power to obtain relevant information ............................................... 67

57.......... Ombudsman to be given information and access despite other laws 68

58.......... Exchange of information between Ombudsman and State inspecting authorities     69

59.......... Delegation by Ombudsman .............................................................. 69

60.......... Ombudsman not to be sued .............................................................. 70

61.......... Report on inspection ........................................................................ 70

Division 4--General                                                                                                     71

62.......... Evidentiary certificates ..................................................................... 71

Part 7--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        73

63.......... Delegation by chief officer of law enforcement agency .................... 73

64.......... Compensation for loss or injury ....................................................... 73

65.......... Minor defects in connection with warrant or other authority .......... 73

66.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 74

Schedule 1--Amendment of other legislation and transitional and saving provisions          75

Australian Federal Police Act 1979                                                                       75

Criminal Code Act 1995                                                                                           76

Customs Act 1901                                                                                                       77

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987                                                78

Notes                                                                                                                                             81


  

Notes to the Surveillance Devices Act 2004

Note 1

The Surveillance Devices Act 2004 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 152, 2004 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act

Number
and year

Date
of Assent

Date of commencement

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Surveillance Devices Act 2004

152, 2004

15 Dec 2004

15 Dec 2004

 

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005

129, 2005

8 Nov 2005

Schedule 1 (items 68, 69, 75, 76): 6 Dec 2005

Sch. 1 (items 75, 76)

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Video Link Evidence and Other Measures) Act 2005

136, 2005

15 Nov 2005

16 Nov 2005

--

Anti‑Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005

144, 2005

14 Dec 2005

Schedule 7 (items 15-18): 11 Jan 2006
Schedule 9 (item 24): (a)

S. 2(1) (item 19) (am. by 170, 2006, Sch. 1 [item 11])

as amended by

 

 

 

 

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006

170, 2006

12 Dec 2006

Schedule 1 (item 11): (b)

--

Statute Law Revision Act 2006

9, 2006

23 Mar 2006

Schedule 1 (items 25, 26): (c)

--

Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Act 2006

40, 2006

3 May 2006

Schedule 1 (items 23, 24): 13 June 2006 (see F2006L01623)

--

Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006

86, 2006

30 June 2006

Schedule 1 (items 60-70): 30 Dec 2006 (see s. 2(1))

--

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006

170, 2006

12 Dec 2006

Schedule 1 (item 158): 13 Dec 2006 (see s. 2(1))

--

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Marking of Plastic Explosives) Act 2007

3, 2007

19 Feb 2007

Schedules 1-3: 25 Aug 2007
Remainder: Royal Assent

--

Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2007

52, 2007

12 Apr 2007

Schedule 1 (items 63, 64): 13 Apr 2007

--

Fisheries Legislation Amendment Act 2007

104, 2007

28 June 2007

Schedule 4: 26 July 2007

--

Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act 2008

95, 2008

3 Oct 2008

Schedule 1: 4 Oct 2008

Sch. 1 (items 9, 10)

Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2009

32, 2009

22 May 2009

Schedule 2 (item 1): 23 May 2009

--


(a)     Subsection 2(1) (item 19) of the Anti‑Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

19.  Schedule 9, items 18 to 24

14 December 2006.

However, if section 3 of the Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Act 2006 commences before 14 December 2006, the provision(s) do not commence at all.

Do not commence

(b)    Subsection 2(1) (item 3) of the Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

3.  Schedule 1, items 2 to 11

Immediately after the commencement of section 2 of the Anti‑Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005.

14 December 2005

(c)     Subsection 2(1) (item 17) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2006 provides as follows:

                 (1)   Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

17.  Schedule 1, items 25 and 26

Immediately after the commencement of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004.

15 December 2004


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. 9, 2006

S. 6....................................

am. Nos. 86 and 170, 2006; Nos. 52 and 104, 2007; No. 95, 2008; No. 32, 2009

Ss. 6A, 6B.........................

ad. No. 95, 2008

Part 2

 

Division 2

 

S. 18..................................

am. No. 40, 2006

Division 3

 

S. 22..................................

am. No. 136, 2005

Part 3

 

S. 30..................................

am. Nos. 129 and 144, 2005; No. 3, 2007

S. 32..................................

am. No. 40, 2006

Part 4

 

S. 37..................................

am. Nos. 9 and 86, 2006

S. 38..................................

am. No. 86, 2006

Note to s. 39(8)..................

ad. No. 136, 2005

Part 5

 

S. 42..................................

am. No. 104, 2007

Part 7

 

S. 64..................................

am. No. 86, 2006


Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005 (No. 129, 2005)

Schedule 1

75  Application of amendments to conduct before and after commencement

(1)        In this item:

earlier conduct means conduct engaged in before the commencement of this Schedule.

engage in conduct has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code.

later conduct means conduct engaged in after the commencement of this Schedule.

new law means Part 9.1 of the Criminal Code as in force from time to time.

old law means:

                     (a)  the provisions of Division 2 of Part XIII of the Customs Act 1901 as in force from time to time before the commencement of this Schedule to the extent to which those provisions related to narcotic substances; and

                     (b)  any law related to those provisions.

(2)        The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply in relation to earlier conduct.

(3)        Despite the amendments made by this Schedule, the old law continues to apply in relation to later conduct if:

                     (a)  the later conduct is related to earlier conduct; and

                     (b)  because of that relationship, the later conduct would have constituted a physical element (or a part of a physical element) of an offence against the old law, had the old law remained in force.

(4)        If later conduct is alleged against a person in a prosecution for an offence against the old law, that conduct must not be alleged against the person in a prosecution for:

                     (a)  an offence against the new law; or

                     (b)  an offence related to an offence against the new law.

76  Transitional regulations

(1)        The regulations may make provision for matters of a transitional nature (including any saving or application provisions) arising from the amendments or repeals made by this Schedule.

(2)        The Governor‑General may make regulations for the purposes of subitem (1).

 

Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act 2008
(No. 95, 2008)

Schedule 1

9  Transitional provision--appropriate authorising officer

(1)        This item applies to an authorisation in force, immediately before the commencement of this item, under one of the following provisions of the definition of appropriate authorising officer in relation to a law enforcement officer in subsection 6(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (as in force at that time):

                     (a)  subparagraph (a)(iii);

                     (b)  subparagraph (aa)(iii);

                     (c)  subparagraph (b)(ii);

                     (d)  subparagraph (d)(ii);

                     (e)  subparagraph (e)(iii);

                      (f)  subparagraph (f)(iii).

(2)        The authorisation has effect, on and after the commencement of this item, as if it were an authorisation in force under:

                     (a)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(1) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (b)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (aa)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(2) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 this Schedule); or

                     (c)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (b)(ii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(3) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (d)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (d)(ii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(4) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (e)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (e)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(5) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                      (f)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (f)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(6) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule).

(3)        To avoid doubt, the amendments made by this Schedule do not affect the validity of anything done before the commencement of this item in relation to, or in reliance on, an authorisation to which this item applies.

10  Transitional provision--law enforcement officer

(1)        This item applies to an authorisation in force, immediately before the commencement of this item, under subparagraph (aa)(iii) of the definition of law enforcement officer in subsection 6(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (as in force at that time).

(2)        The authorisation has effect, on and after the commencement of this item, as if it were an authorisation in force under section 6B of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule).

(3)        To avoid doubt, the amendments made by this Schedule do not affect the validity of anything done before the commencement of this item in relation to, or in reliance on, an authorisation to which this item applies.