Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated ActsAct 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
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 |
Date |
Date of commencement |
Application, saving or transitional provisions |
|
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 |
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) |
-- |
|
9, 2006 |
23 Mar 2006 |
Schedule 1 (items 25, 26): (c) |
-- |
|
|
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 |
-- |
|
Anti‑Money Laundering and Counter‑Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2007 |
52, 2007 |
12 Apr 2007 |
Schedule 1 (items 63, 64): 13 Apr 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 |
|
|
am. No. 9, 2006 |
|
|
am. Nos. 86 and 170, 2006; Nos. 52 and 104, 2007; No. 95, 2008; No. 32, 2009 |
|
|
ad. No. 95, 2008 |
|
|
Part 2 |
|
|
Division 2 |
|
|
am. No. 40, 2006 |
|
|
Division 3 |
|
|
am. No. 136, 2005 |
|
|
Part 3 |
|
|
am. Nos. 129 and 144, 2005; No. 3, 2007 |
|
|
am. No. 40, 2006 |
|
|
Part 4 |
|
|
am. Nos. 9 and 86, 2006 |
|
|
am. No. 86, 2006 |
|
|
Note to s. 39(8).................. |
ad. No. 136, 2005 |
|
Part 5 |
|
|
am. No. 104, 2007 |
|
|
Part 7 |
|
|
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.