Crimes Act 1914

The Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) ('Crimes Act') is one of the first recognisable compilations of federal criminal law since federation in 1901. The Crimes Act deals with the most serious criminal offences against the Commonwealth. Amongst other things, Volume 2 of the Crimes Act deals with offences against the administration of justice in federal proceedings, piracy, offences relating to postal services, etc.[1]

Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)
Parliament of Australia
CitationCrimes Act 1914 (Cth)
Territorial extentThis Act applies throughout the whole of the Commonwealth and the Territories and also applies beyond the Commonwealth and the Territories.
Enacted byParliament of Australia
Commenced12 September 1914
Keywords
Australian Federal Criminal Law, Federal Crimes, Federal Offences
Status: In force

Historically, it was the most extensive legislative instrument that dealt with federal offences, but is now being gradually superseded with the passing of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which is a compilation of all the federal offences in Australia.

Constitutional Basis of Federal Criminal Law

The Crimes Act 1914 is one of many current Commonwealth legislation that deals with federal crimes in Australia. Generally, criminal law is a state-law matter, as State and Territory Governments are mandated under their respective constitutions to legislate for the peace, order, and good government of their respective jurisdictions.[2] But, while there is no general constitutional basis for the Commonwealth to legislate in criminal law, federal legislation exists to deal with crimes of a federal nature.

There are currently three main bases in the Australian Constitution that the Commonwealth Parliament relies on as the constitutional basis to legislate relating to criminal law. The first basis relied on is section 51(xxxix) (the 'incidental power'), the second basis is the implied incidental power under the heads of powers in sections 51 and 52 of the Constitution, and the third basis being executive power under section 61 of the Constitution.[3]

Structure of the Crimes Act

VOLUME ONE
  • Part I – Preliminary;
  • Part IAA – Search, information gathering, arrest and related powers (other than powers under delayed notification search warrants;
  • Part IAAA – Delayed notification search warrants;
  • Part IAAB – Monitoring of compliance with control orders etc.;
  • Part IAB – Controlled operations;
  • Part IABA – Integrity testing;
  • Part IAC – Assumed identities;
  • Part IACA – Witness identity protection for operatives;
  • Part IAD – Protecting vulnerable persons;
  • Part IAE – Video link evidence in proceedings for terrorism and related offences etc.;
  • Part IB – Sentencing, imprisonment and release of federal offenders;
  • Part IC – Investigation of Commonwealth offences;

VOLUME TWO
  • Part ID – Forensic procedures;
  • Part IE – Forfeiture of child abuse material;
  • Part IIA – Protection of public and other services;
  • Part III – Offences relating to the administration of justice;
  • Part IV – Piracy;
  • Part VIIA – Offences relating to postal services;
  • Part VIIC – Pardons, quashing of convictions, spent convictions;
  • Part VIID – Collecting, using and disclosing personal information that may be relevant for integrity purposes;
  • Part VIII – Miscellaneous
  • Schedule – Form of explanation under section 23V

See also

References
  1. Affairs, AG; Home. "Crimes Act 1914". www.legislation.gov.au. Retrieved 9 November 2019.
  2. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "History of criminal law". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 21 November 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
  3. corporateName=Commonwealth Parliament; address=Parliament House, Canberra. "History of criminal law". www.aph.gov.au. Retrieved 9 November 2019.CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
This article is issued from Wikipedia. The text is licensed under Creative Commons - Attribution - Sharealike. Additional terms may apply for the media files.