Law Information - Commonwealth Offences - Federal
Terrorist Acts
Date: 01/09/2009
The Law -
Sections 101.1 of the Commonwealth Criminal Code states:
(1) A person commits an offence if the person engages in a terrorist act.
(2) Section 15.4 (extended geographical jurisdiction-category D) applies to an offence against subsection (1)
Section 15.4 states
If a law of the Commonwealth provides that this section applies to a particular offence, the offence applies:
(a) whether or not the conduct constituting the alleged offence occurs in Australia; and
(b) whether or not a result of the conduct constituting the alleged offence occurs in Australia.
Maximum Penalty - Terrorist Acts
The Maximum penalty for the offence of Terrorist Acts is life imprisonment.
What the prosecution must prove - Terrorist Acts
In order for the Police to prove their case at Court, they must prove each of the following matters beyond a reasonable doubt.
The accused engaged in a terrorist act.
It will be necessary for the Police in every offence to prove that the accused was the person who committed the offence. Click here to learn more about identification evidence.Possible Defences - Terrorist Acts
Possible defences to this offence include but are not limited to
1. The accused did not engage in a terrorist act.
2. The act was not terrorism.
3. Identification i.e. it was not the accused
The Court process - Terrorist Acts
This matter is Commonwealth Offence which means it is dealt with in the Supreme Court.
Criminal Law Article written by Bill Potts (a Queensland criminal defence lawyer who has knowledge in the Commonwealth Charge of Terrorist Acts matters)
