Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009

Administered by Attorney-General's Department

Legislation au F2009L03623 Regulations In force Legislative Instrument

Legislation content

EXPLANATORY STATEMENT

Select Legislative Instrument 2009 No. 256

Issued by the authority of the Minister for Home Affairs

Extradition Act 1988

Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009

 

Section 55 of the Extradition Act 1988 (the Act) provides, in part, that the Governor‑General may make regulations, not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing all matters required or permitted by the Act to be prescribed, or necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to the Act.

Section 5 of the Act defines an ‘extradition country’ to include a country that is declared by regulations to be an extradition country.  Paragraph 11(1)(b) of the Act provides that regulations may make provision for the application of the Act in relation to a specified extradition country subject to certain limitations, conditions, exceptions or qualifications.  Subsection 11(2) states that this reference to limitations, conditions, exceptions or qualifications includes modification to the effect that a number of days greater or lesser than the 45 days referred to in paragraph 17(2)(a) applies for the purposes of that paragraph.

The purpose of the Regulations is to establish clear extradition arrangements with Bosnia and Herzegovina to enable Australia to consider extradition requests received from Bosnia and Herzegovina.  Bosnia and Herzegovina is able to grant extradition to Australia in the absence of a treaty.

Before the Regulations were made, Australia’s ability to consider extradition requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina was unclear.  Australia’s extradition relationship with the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia was governed by a treaty inherited from the United Kingdom.  The status of this treaty between Australia and the successor states to the former Yugoslavia, including Bosnia and Herzegovina, is unclear both at international and domestic law.  Moreover, the treaty only provides for extradition for certain listed offences and would not always provide a basis for extradition for other offences such as drug trafficking or war crimes offences.

Extradition requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina are considered in accordance with the Act, subject to the modification of paragraph 17(2)(a) whereby a person arrested may be released by a magistrate after 60 days if a request for his or her extradition has not been received.  The standard period under the Act is 45 days.  Modification to apply a 60 day period is common and has been included, for example, in regulations applying the Act to Canada, Croatia and Slovenia.

The Act applies the modern ‘no evidence’ standard for documentation provided in support of any extradition request.  In accordance with this evidentiary standard, countries are not required to provide evidence sufficient to establish a prima facie case that the person committed the offence.

Extradition requests made pursuant to the Regulations are subject to the various safeguards set out in the Act.  For example, extradition will not be permitted where the person is sought for or in connection with his or her race, religion, nationality or political opinions or is to be tried, sentenced or detained for a political or military offence.  Extradition must be refused where the offence for which the person is requested attracts the death penalty, unless an undertaking is given that the death penalty will not be imposed or, if imposed, will not be carried out.  Extradition must also be refused where the person could be subjected to torture.  In addition, the Attorney-General retains a broad discretion to refuse any extradition request.

The Regulations commenced on the day after they were registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

Consultation was undertaken with the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, who supported the making of the Regulations.  Further consultation was unnecessary for this legislative instrument as this instrument does not substantially alter existing arrangements and has no direct or indirect effect on business.

Detail of the Regulations is set out in the Attachment.

The Regulations are a legislative instrument for the purposes of the Legislative Instruments Act 2003.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

ATTACHMENT


 

Details of the Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009

 

 

Regulation 1 – Name of Regulations

 

This regulation provides that the title of the Regulations is the Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009.

 

Regulation 2 – Commencement

 

This regulation provides that the Regulations commence on the day after they are registered on the Federal Register of Legislative Instruments.

 

Regulation 3 – Definition

 

This regulation defines terms used in the Regulations.

 

Regulation 4 – Declaration that Bosnia and Herzegovina is an extradition country

 

This regulation declares Bosnia and Herzegovina to be an extradition country.

 

Regulation 5 – Application of Act

 

This regulation provides that the Extradition Act 1988 applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina subject to the modification of the period nominated in paragraph 17(2)(a) from 45 days to 60 days.

Overview

The Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009 were enacted to clarify Australia's extradition arrangements with Bosnia and Herzegovina, thereby enabling the consideration of extradition requests from the latter. Prior to these Regulations, Australia's extradition relationship with Bosnia and Herzegovina was ambiguous due to the unclear status of a treaty inherited from the United Kingdom, which governed Australia's relationship with the former Socialist Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. This treaty, which only applied to certain listed offences, did not provide a basis for extradition for other offences such as drug trafficking or war crimes. Consequently, the Extradition Act 1988 was modified to include Bosnia and Herzegovina as an extradition country, subject to a specific condition that allows for a 60-day period before a person arrested under an extradition warrant may be released if a request has not been received, as opposed to the standard 45-day period. The Regulations were issued under the authority of the Minister for Home Affairs, with the policy objective of establishing clear and effective extradition arrangements with Bosnia and Herzegovina.

Scope and Application

The Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009 applies to the establishment of clear extradition arrangements between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina, enabling the consideration of extradition requests from the latter. This legislation is a legislative instrument under the Extradition Act 1988, which allows for the creation of regulations not inconsistent with the Act, prescribing matters required or permitted by the Act. The Regulations specifically define Bosnia and Herzegovina as an extradition country and modify the application of the Extradition Act 1988 to accommodate the unique circumstances of extradition requests from this country. The Act applies to individuals who are subject to extradition requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina, and the modifications to the application of the Act are necessary to clarify Australia's extradition relationship with this country. The Regulations provide a clear framework for the consideration of extradition requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina and ensure that Australia's extradition arrangements with this country are consistent with international standards.

Key Provisions

The Extradition (Bosnia and Herzegovina) Regulations 2009 (Regulations) establish clear extradition arrangements between Australia and Bosnia and Herzegovina under the Extradition Act 1988 (Act). Regulation 4 declares Bosnia and Herzegovina as an extradition country (s. 5), and Regulation 5 specifies that the Act applies to Bosnia and Herzegovina with a modification to the period a person may be held before an extradition request is received (s. 11(1)(b)). Specifically, Regulation 5 modifies paragraph 17(2)(a) of the Act to extend the period from 45 to 60 days. The Regulations impose obligations on the parties involved in extradition proceedings. They require that extradition requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina be considered in accordance with the Act, including the requirement that the requesting country provide documentation conforming to the ‘no evidence’ standard (s. 17(2)(a)). Furthermore, the Regulations ensure that the safeguards outlined in the Act, such as the prohibition of extradition for political or military offences and the refusal of extradition where the death penalty or torture is involved, apply to requests from Bosnia and Herzegovina (s. 11(2)). Failure to comply with the provisions of the Regulations can lead to various legal consequences. For instance, if an extradition request is not made within the specified 60-day period, the person may be released by a magistrate. Additionally, if any of the Act’s safeguards are violated, such as attempting to extradite someone for a political offence, the extradition request can be refused. The Attorney-General also retains a discretionary power to refuse any extradition request, which can be exercised in cases where the public interest or other considerations deem it appropriate. Under the Act, any breaches that result in unlawful extradition or the failure to comply with the stipulated conditions can lead to civil or criminal penalties. The exact penalties are not specified in the Explanatory Statement but would typically align with the general provisions of the Act, which can include fines and imprisonment for officials found guilty of misconduct or negligence in the extradition process. The maximum penalties for such offences can vary but generally reflect the seriousness of the breach.

Legal classification tags

Area of Law
International Law
Criminal Law
Instrument
Regulation
Concepts
Definitions & Interpretation
Commencement Provisions
Offence Provisions

Interactions

Authorises

All Versions

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.