Criminal Code Act 1995
Schedule
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The Criminal Code
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence that has a physical element for which there is no fault element if:
(a) at or before the time of the conduct constituting the physical element, the person considered whether or not facts existed, and is under a mistaken but reasonable belief about those facts; and
(b) had those facts existed, the conduct would not have constituted an offence.
(2)
A person may be regarded as having considered whether or not facts existed if:
(a) he or she had considered, on a previous occasion, whether those facts existed in the circumstances surrounding that occasion; and
(b) he or she honestly and reasonably believed that the circumstances surrounding the present occasion were the same, or substantially the same, as those surrounding the previous occasion.
Section 3
CHAPTER 2 - GENERAL PRINCIPLES OF CRIMINAL RESPONSIBILITY Part 2.3 - Circumstances in which there is no criminal responsibilityNote:
This Part sets out defences that are generally available. Defences that apply to a more limited class of offences are dealt with elsewhere in this Code and in other laws.
Division 9 - Circumstances involving mistake or ignorance SECTION 9.2 Mistake of fact (strict liability) (1)A person is not criminally responsible for an offence that has a physical element for which there is no fault element if:
(a) at or before the time of the conduct constituting the physical element, the person considered whether or not facts existed, and is under a mistaken but reasonable belief about those facts; and
(b) had those facts existed, the conduct would not have constituted an offence.
(2)
A person may be regarded as having considered whether or not facts existed if:
(a) he or she had considered, on a previous occasion, whether those facts existed in the circumstances surrounding that occasion; and
(b) he or she honestly and reasonably believed that the circumstances surrounding the present occasion were the same, or substantially the same, as those surrounding the previous occasion.
Note:
Section 6.2 prevents this section applying in situations of absolute liability.
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