Criminal Code Act 1995

Schedule - The Criminal Code  

Section 3

CHAPTER 7 - THE PROPER ADMINISTRATION OF GOVERNMENT  

Part 7.8 - Causing harm to or obstructing Commonwealth public officials and impersonating Commonwealth public officials or bodies  

Division 150 - False representations in relation to a Commonwealth body  

Subdivision A - Offences  

SECTION 150.1   False representations in relation to a Commonwealth body  

(1)    
A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person engages in conduct; and

(b) the conduct results in, or is reasonably capable of resulting in, a representation that the person:

(i) is a Commonwealth body; or

(ii) is acting on behalf of, or with the authority of, a Commonwealth body; and

(c) the person is not:

(i) the Commonwealth body; or

(ii) acting on behalf of, or with the authority of, the Commonwealth body.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(2)    
A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person engages in conduct; and

(b) the conduct results in, or is reasonably capable of resulting in, a representation that the person:

(i) is a Commonwealth body; or

(ii) is acting on behalf of, or with the authority of, a Commonwealth body; and

(c) the person engages in the conduct with the intention of:

(i) obtaining a gain; or

(ii) causing a loss; or

(iii) influencing the exercise of a public duty or function; and

(d) the person is not:

(i) the Commonwealth body; or

(ii) acting on behalf of, or with the authority of, the Commonwealth body.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

(3)    
For the purposes of this section, it is immaterial whether the Commonwealth body exists or is fictitious.

(4)    
If the Commonwealth body is fictitious, subsection (1) or (2) does not apply unless a person would reasonably believe that the Commonwealth body exists.

(5)    
Without limiting section 15A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 , this section does not apply to the extent (if any) that it would infringe any constitutional doctrine of implied freedom of political communication.

(6)    
Section 15.3 (extended geographical jurisdiction - category C) applies to each offence against this section.

(7)    
In this section:

Commonwealth body
means:

(a) a Commonwealth entity; or

(b) a Commonwealth company (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013 ); or

(c) a service, benefit, program or facility for some or all members of the public that is provided by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, whether under a law of the Commonwealth or otherwise.

conduct
does not include conduct engaged in solely for genuine satirical, academic or artistic purposes.