Criminal Code Act 1995

Schedule - The Criminal Code

Section 3

CHAPTER 10 - NATIONAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Part 10.6 - Telecommunications Services

History

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.

Division 474 - Telecommunications offences

View history note

Subdivision B - Interference with telecommunications

View history note

SECTION 474.6 Interference with facilities

(1)
A person commits an offence if the person tampers with, or interferes with, a facility owned or operated by:

(a) a carrier; or

(b) a carriage service provider; or

(c) a nominated carrier.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 1 year.

(2)
For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1) , absolute liability applies to the physical element of circumstance of the offence, that the facility is owned or operated by a carrier, a carriage service provider or a nominated carrier.

(3)
A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person tampers with, or interferes with, a facility owned or operated by:

(i) a carrier; or

(ii) a carriage service provider; or

(iii) a nominated carrier; and

(b) this conduct results in hindering the normal operation of a carriage service supplied by a carriage service provider.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(4)
For the purposes of an offence against subsection (3) , absolute liability applies to the following physical elements of circumstance of the offence:

(a) that the facility is owned or operated by a carrier, a carriage service provider or a nominated carrier;

(b) that the carriage service is supplied by a carriage service provider.

(4A)

View history reference

A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against subsection (1) or (3) if:

(a) the person is, at the time of the offence, an ASIO officer acting in good faith in the course of the person ' s duties; and

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

Note 1:

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

Note 2:

See also subsection 475.1(2) for the interaction between this defence and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 .

View history note

(5)
A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person uses or operates any apparatus or device (whether or not it is comprised in, connected to or used in connection with a telecommunications network); and

(b) this conduct results in hindering the normal operation of a carriage service supplied by a carriage service provider.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years.

(6)
For the purposes of an offence against subsection (5) , absolute liability applies to the physical element of circumstance of the offence, that the carriage service is supplied by a carriage service provider.

(7)
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against subsection (5) if:

(a) the person is, at the time of the offence, a law enforcement officer, or an intelligence or security officer, acting in good faith 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 1:

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

Note 2:

See also subsection 475.1(2) for the interaction between this defence and the Radiocommunications Act 1992 .

(7A)
A person is not criminally responsible for an offence against subsection (5) if the conduct of the person:

(a) is in accordance with a technical assistance request; or

(b) is in compliance with a technical assistance notice; or

(c) is in compliance with a technical capability notice.

View history note

(8)
For the purposes of this section, a facility is taken to be owned or operated by a nominated carrier if the Telecommunications Act 1997 applies, under section 81A of that Act, as if that facility were owned or operated by the nominated carrier.

View history note

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