Criminal Code Act 1995

Pt 10.6 substituted by No 127 of 2004, s 3 and Sch 1 item 1, effective 1 March 2005. Pt 10.6 formerly read:

Part 10.6 - Telecommunications

Division 473 - Preliminary

Definitions  
473.1
In this Part:

loss
means a loss in property, whether temporary or permanent, and includes not getting what one might get.

obtaining
includes:

(a) obtaining for another person; and

(b) inducing a third person to do something that results in another person obtaining.

property
has the same meaning as in Chapter 7 .

carriage service
has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997 .

carriage service provider
has the same meaning as in the Telecommunications Act 1997 .

Dishonesty  
473.2
For the purposes of this Part, dishonest means:

(a) dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people; and

(b) known by the defendant to be dishonest according to the standards of ordinary people. Determination of dishonesty to be a matter for the trier of fact  
473.3
In a prosecution for an offence against this Part, the determination of dishonesty is a matter for the trier of fact.

Division 474 - Telecommunications offences

General dishonesty with respect to a carriage service provider  
Obtaining a gain

(1)
A person is guilty of an offence if the person does anything with the intention of dishonestly obtaining a gain from a carriage service provider by way of the supply of a carriage service.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

Causing a loss

(2)
A person is guilty of an offence if the person does anything with the intention of dishonestly causing a loss to a carriage service provider in connection with the supply of a carriage service.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

(3)
A person is guilty of an offence if:

(a) the person dishonestly causes a loss, or dishonestly causes a risk of loss, to a carriage service provider in connection with the supply of a carriage service; and

(b) the person knows or believes that the loss will occur or that there is a substantial risk of the loss occurring.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 5 years.

Division 475 - Miscellaneous

Saving of other laws  
475.1
This Part is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of any other law of the Commonwealth or any law of a State or Territory.

Div 474 substituted by No 127 of 2004, s 3 and Sch 1 item 1, effective 1 March 2005. For former wording of Div 474 see note under Pt 10.6 heading.

Subdiv D heading substituted by No 72 of 2019, s 3 and Sch 7 item 32, effective 21 September 2019. The heading formerly read:

Subdivision D - Offences relating to use of carriage service for child pornography material or child abuse material

Subdiv D (heading) inserted by No 42 of 2010, s 3 and Sch 1 item 19, effective 15 April 2010.

S 474.21 repealed by No 72 of 2019, s 3 and Sch 7 item 33, effective 21 September 2019. S 474.21 formerly read:

SECTION 474.21 Defences in respect of child pornography material  
(1)
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against section 474.19 (using a carriage service for child pornography material) or 474.20 (possessing etc. child pornography material for use through a carriage service) because of engaging in particular conduct if the conduct:

(a) is of public benefit; and

(b) does not extend beyond what is of public benefit.

In determining whether the person is, under this subsection, not criminally responsible for the offence, the question whether the conduct is of public benefit is a question of fact and the person ' s motives in engaging in the conduct are irrelevant.

Note:

A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see subsection 13.3(3).

(2)
For the purposes of subsection (1), conduct is of public benefit if, and only if, the conduct is necessary for or of assistance in:

(a) enforcing a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

(b) monitoring compliance with, or investigating a contravention of, a law of the Commonwealth, a State or a Territory; or

(c) the administration of justice; or

(d) conducting scientific, medical or educational research that has been approved by the AFP Minister in writing for the purposes of this section.

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History

S 474.21(2) amended by No 31 of 2018, s 3 and Sch 2 item 113(10), by substituting " AFP Minister " for " Minister " in para (d), effective 11 May 2018. For transitional rules, see note under s 72.28.

(3)
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against section 474.19 (using a carriage service for child pornography material) or 474.20 (possessing etc. child pornography material for use through a carriage service) if:

(a) the person is, at the time of the offence, a law enforcement officer, or an intelligence or security officer, acting in the course of his or her duties; and

(b) the conduct of the person is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of performing that duty.

Note:

A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see subsection 13.3(3).

(4)
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against section 474.19 (using a carriage service for child pornography material) or 474.20 (possessing etc. child pornography material for use through a carriage service) if the person engages in the conduct in good faith for the sole purpose of:

(a) assisting the eSafety Commissioner to detect:

(i) prohibited content (within the meaning of Schedule 7 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 ); or

(ii) potential prohibited content (within the meaning of that Schedule);

in the performance of the Commissioner ' s functions under Schedule 5 or Schedule 7 to that Act; or

(b) manufacturing or developing, or updating, content filtering technology (including software) in accordance with:

(i) a recognised alternative access-prevention arrangement (within the meaning of clause 40 of Schedule 5 to the Broadcasting Services Act 1992 ); or

(ii) a designated alternative access-prevention arrangement (within the meaning of clause 60 of that Schedule).

Note:

A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see subsection 13.3(3).

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History

S 474.21(4) amended by No 51 of 2017, s 3 and Sch 1 item 34, by substituting " eSafety Commissioner " for " Children ' s e-Safety Commissioner " in para (a), effective 23 June 2017. For transitional provision, see note under s 273.9.

S 474.21(4) amended by No 25 of 2015, s 3 and Sch 2 items 11 and 12, by substituting " Children ' s e-Safety Commissioner " for " Australian Communications and Media Authority " and " Commissioner ' s " for " Authority ' s " in para (a), effective 1 July 2015.

S 474.21(4) amended by No 124 of 2007, s 3 and Sch 3 items 78 and 79, by substituting " Schedule 7 " for " Schedule 5 " in para (a)(i) and substituting " under Schedule 5 or Schedule 7 to that Act " for " under that Schedule " in para (a), effective 20 January 2008.

S 474.21(4) amended by No 45 of 2005, s 3 and Sch 3 item 1, by substituting " Australian Communications and Media Authority " for " Australian Broadcasting Authority " in para (a), effective 1 July 2005.

S 474.21 inserted by No 127 of 2004, s 3 and Sch 1 item 1, effective 1 March 2005.