UNLAWFUL
ASSOCIATIONS.
No. 41 of 1916.
An Act relating to Unlawful Associations and
Members thereof and certain offences.
[Assented to 21st December, 1916.]
Preamble.
WHEREAS an Association known as the Industrial
Workers of the World and members thereof have been concerned in advocating and
inciting to the commission of divers crimes and offences:
And
whereas it is expedient for the effective prosecution of the present war that
laws shall be enacted for the suppression of such practices:
Be
it therefore enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the
House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows :—
Short
title.
1. This Act may be cited as the Unlawful
Associations Act 1916.
Duration.
2. This Act shall continue in force for the duration of the present
war and a period of six months thereafter, but no longer.
Unlawful associations.
3. The following are hereby declared to be unlawful associations,
namely:—
(a) The
association known as the Industrial Workers of the World; and
(b) Any
association which, by its constitution or propaganda, advocates or encourages,
or incites or instigates to, the taking or endangering of human life, or the
destruction or injury of property.
Advocating or inciting to crime.
4. Whoever advocates or encourages, or incites or instigates to the
taking or endangering of human life, or the destruction or injury of property,
shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty:
Imprisonment for six months.
Members of unlawful association advocating or
inciting to acts impeding warlike preparations.
5. Whoever, being a member of an unlawful association, advocates or
encourages, or incites or instigates to, any action intended or calculated to
prevent or hinder the production, manufacture or transport, for purposes
connected with the war, of troops, arms, munitions, or warlike material,
including foodstuffs, shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty:
Imprisonment for six months.
Deportation.
6. Any person, not being a natural-born British subject born in
Australia, who is convicted of an offence under either of the last two
preceding sections, shall be liable, in addition to the punishment imposed upon
him for the offence, and either during or upon the expiration of his term of
imprisonment, to be deported from the Commonwealth pursuant to any order of the
Attorney-General.
Printing or publishing matter inciting to
crime.
7. Any person who prints or publishes any writing advocating or
encouraging, or inciting or instigating to, the taking or endangering of human
life or the destruction or injury of property, shall be guilty of an offence.
Penalty:
Imprisonment for six months.
Regulations.
8.