Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984

Administered by Attorney-General's Department

Legislation au F1996B01289 Regulations Not in force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984

Statutory Rules No. 249, 1984

made under the

Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983

Compilation No. 7

Compilation date:   23 May 2018

Includes amendments up to: F2018L00478

Registered:    26 June 2018

 

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 23 May 2018 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Selfrepealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

 

 

 

Contents

1 Name of Regulations

2 Definitions

3 Other functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions

4 Additional powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions

5 Prescribed bodies—paragraph 9(6C)(c) of the Act

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

1  Name of Regulations

  These Regulations are the Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984.

2  Definitions

  In these Regulations:

Act means the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983.

State or Territory authority means an agency of a State or Territory government that:

 (a) conducts investigations into offences against State or Territory laws; or

 (b) is responsible for the conduct of prosecutions for breaches of those laws.

3  Other functions of the Director of Public Prosecutions

 (1) For the purposes of paragraph 6(2)(b) of the Act, the other functions of the Director are:

 (a) to carry on proceedings instituted by:

 (i) an officer of, or a person employed by, the Commonwealth or a body established by an Act or a law of a Territory; or

 (ii) a person holding office under an Act or a law of a Territory; or

 (iia) a person who performs services for the Australian Crime Commission under an arrangement under subsection 58(1) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002; or

 (iib) the Australian Securities Commission;

  being proceedings instituted for:

 (iii) the commitment of persons for trial in respect of indictable offences against the laws of a State; or

 (iv) the summary conviction of persons in respect of offences against the laws of a State; and

 (c) to perform, in respect of matters arising under laws made under, or continued in force by, the Australian Capital Territory (SelfGovernment) Act 1988, the functions conferred on the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Australian Capital Territory by the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1990 of the Australian Capital Territory, during any period when no person holds office, or is acting, as Director of Public Prosecutions under that Act; and

 (d) to institute proceedings, or to carry on proceedings (whether instituted by the Director or not), under section 112AH of the Family Law Act 1975; and

 (e) to institute proceedings, or to carry on proceedings (whether instituted by the Director or not), under the Confiscation of Proceeds of Crime Act 1989 of New South Wales; and

 (f) to give, to an authority of the Commonwealth, legal advice on law enforcement or a matter relating to law enforcement, whether or not the advice is for the purposes of a particular investigation; and

 (g) to give, to a State or Territory authority, legal advice on the investigation or prosecution of an offence against a law of the Commonwealth or a matter relating to the investigation or prosecution of such an offence, whether or not the advice is for the purposes of a particular investigation; and

 (h) to institute proceedings, or to carry on proceedings (whether instituted by the Director or not), or to coordinate or supervise the institution or carrying on of proceedings, for the recovery of:

 (i) an amount payable by a person to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority under a superannuation order made under the Crimes (Superannuation Benefits) Act 1989; or

 (ii) an amount payable by a person to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth organisation under a superannuation order made under Part VA of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979.

 (2) Nothing in paragraph 3(1)(f) affects the power of the Director (or a person entitled to represent the Director) under subsection 9(11) of the Act.

4  Additional powers of the Director of Public Prosecutions

  The Director has the power, during any period referred to in paragraph 3(c), to exercise the powers conferred on the Director of Public Prosecutions of the Australian Capital Territory by the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1990 of the Australian Capital Territory, in respect of matters referred to in that paragraph.

5  Prescribed bodies—paragraph 9(6C)(c) of the Act

  For the purposes of paragraph 9(6C)(c) of the Act, the following bodies are prescribed:

 (a) the New South Wales Crime Commission established under the New South Wales Crime Commission Act 1985 of New South Wales;

 (b) the Independent Commission Against Corruption established under the Independent Commission Against Corruption Act 1988 of New South Wales;

 (c) the Criminal Justice Commission established under the Criminal Justice Act 1989 of Queensland.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

 

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

 

ad = added or inserted

o = order(s)

am = amended

Ord = Ordinance

amdt = amendment

orig = original

c = clause(s)

par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)

C[x] = Compilation No. x

    /subsubparagraph(s)

Ch = Chapter(s)

pres = present

def = definition(s)

prev = previous

Dict = Dictionary

(prev…) = previously

disallowed = disallowed by Parliament

Pt = Part(s)

Div = Division(s)

r = regulation(s)/rule(s)

ed = editorial change

reloc = relocated

exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have

renum = renumbered

    effect

rep = repealed

F = Federal Register of Legislation

rs = repealed and substituted

gaz = gazette

s = section(s)/subsection(s)

LA = Legislation Act 2003

Sch = Schedule(s)

LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003

Sdiv = Subdivision(s)

(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given

SLI = Select Legislative Instrument

    effect

SR = Statutory Rules

(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment

SubCh = SubChapter(s)

    cannot be given effect

SubPt = Subpart(s)

mod = modified/modification

underlining = whole or part not

No. = Number(s)

    commenced or to be commenced

 

Endnote 3—Legislation history

 

Number and year

FRLI registration or gazettal

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

249, 1984

27 Sept 1984

27 Sept 1984

 

155, 1990

29 June 1990

1 July 1990 (r 1)

253, 1990

9 Aug 1990

9 Aug 1990

371, 1992

30 Nov 1992

30 Nov 1992 (r 1)

287, 1996

18 Dec 1996

18 Dec 1996 (r 1)

75, 1997

14 Apr 1997

14 Apr 1997 (r 1)

356, 1998

22 Dec 1998

22 Dec 1998 (r 2)

326, 2002

20 Dec 2002

Sch 6: 1 Jan 2003 (r 2)

211, 2003

21 Aug 2003

21 Aug 2003 (r 2)

302, 2007

27 Sept 2007 (F2007L03876)

1 Oct 2007 (r 2)

 

Name

Registration

Commencement

Application, saving and transitional provisions

Director of Public Prosecutions Amendment (Norfolk Island) Regulations 2017

4 Aug 2017 (F2017L00993)

5 Aug 2017 (s 2(1) item 1)

Director of Public Prosecutions Amendment (Repeal of Norfolk Island Provisions) Regulations 2018

10 Apr 2018 (F2018L00478)

Sch 1: 23 May 2018 (s 2(1) item 2)

 

Endnote 4—Amendment history

 

Provision affected

How affected

Part 1 heading.............

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 1.....................

rs No 356, 1998

r 2.....................

rs No 356, 1998

 

am F2017L00993; F2018L00478

Part 2 heading.............

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 3.....................

am No 155, 1990; No 253, 1990; No 371, 1992; No 287, 1996; No 75, 1997; No 356, 1998; No 326, 2002; No 211, 2003; No 302, 2007; F2017L00993; F2018L00478

r 4.....................

ad No 155, 1990

r 5.....................

ad No 371, 1992

Part 3...................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 6.....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 7.....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 8.....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 9.....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 10....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 11....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 12....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 13....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 14....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 15....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 16....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 17....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 18....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 19....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

Part 4...................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

r 20....................

ad F2017L00993

 

rep F2018L00478

 

 

Overview

The Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984 were enacted under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983, to provide a framework for the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) to effectively discharge their functions, including the conduct of prosecutions and provision of legal advice. These Regulations were made by the Governor-General under section 9 of the Act, which empowers the making of regulations necessary or convenient to be made for carrying out or achieving the purposes of the Act. The primary policy objective behind these Regulations is to ensure the DPP can efficiently manage their responsibilities, including overseeing prosecutions and providing legal advice on matters relating to law enforcement. The Regulations define terms, outline additional functions of the DPP, and specify additional powers and prescribed bodies relevant to the DPP’s role. These Regulations have been subject to several amendments, with the latest amendments registered on 26 June 2018, including the repeal of provisions related to Norfolk Island. The Regulations currently in force reflect these amendments, with details of uncommenced amendments and editorial changes accessible through the Legislation Register. The amendments aim to refine and update the regulatory framework to align with legislative changes and evolving legal requirements, ensuring the DPP’s functions are performed effectively and efficiently.

Scope and Application

The Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984, made under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983, delineate the scope and application of the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) within Australia. These regulations apply to the Director of Public Prosecutions and extend to any proceedings instituted by officers or employees of the Commonwealth or a body established by an Act or law of a Territory, as well as proceedings for the commitment of persons for trial or summary conviction in respect of offences against State or Territory laws. Additionally, they cover functions related to giving legal advice on law enforcement matters and conducting proceedings under specific Australian and State/Territory laws. The regulations also extend to prescribed bodies such as the New South Wales Crime Commission, the Independent Commission Against Corruption, and the Criminal Justice Commission of Queensland. The regulations have a national reach, applying across all jurisdictions within Australia, including the Commonwealth, States, and Territories, and are subject to modifications through subordinate instruments, as evidenced by the various amendments over the years. Notably, the regulations have been updated to reflect changes such as the repeal of Norfolk Island provisions, demonstrating their adaptability to evolving jurisdictional landscapes.

Key Provisions

The Director of Public Prosecutions Regulations 1984, made under the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983, provide a comprehensive framework that outlines the functions, powers, and prescribed bodies related to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP). Section 2 defines key terms such as "Act" and "State or Territory authority." Section 3 enumerates the additional functions of the DPP, including carrying on or instituting proceedings in various capacities such as for the commitment of persons for trial, the summary conviction of persons, and providing legal advice to Commonwealth and State or Territory authorities. Section 4 further elaborates on the additional powers of the DPP, allowing them to exercise powers in specified circumstances, particularly when no person holds office as Director of Public Prosecutions under the Australian Capital Territory Act. Section 5 lists prescribed bodies, such as the New South Wales Crime Commission and the Independent Commission Against Corruption, which are relevant to the functions of the DPP. The Regulations impose several obligations and requirements on the DPP and other entities they govern. The DPP is tasked with carrying out specific legal proceedings and providing legal advice, as detailed in Section 3. These obligations are critical for ensuring that legal processes are followed correctly and that advice provided is in line with relevant laws. Furthermore, the prescribed bodies listed in Section 5 must comply with the regulations that apply to their interaction with the DPP, ensuring a structured and lawful approach to their functions. Failure to comply with the provisions of these Regulations can lead to various legal consequences. Although the specific penalties are not detailed within the Regulations themselves, breaches of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983 or any related regulations could potentially lead to civil or criminal penalties as prescribed by the overarching legislation or other applicable laws. It is important for practitioners to consult the primary Act and relevant case law to understand the full scope of consequences for non-compliance.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
Criminal Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Regulatory Standards
Enforcement Powers

Interactions

Authorises

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Sourced from the Federal Register of Legislation at 26 August 2026. For the latest information on Australian Government law please go to https://www.legislation.gov.au.