National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004

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Legislation au C2004A01386 In force Act

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National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004

 

No. 151, 2004

 

 

 

 

 

An Act to amend certain Acts as a consequence of the enactment of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004, and for related purposes

 

 

Contents

1 Short title

2 Commencement

3 Schedule(s)

Schedule 1—Amendment of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

Schedule 2—Amendment of the Judiciary Act 1903

 

 

National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004

No. 151, 2004

 

 

 

An Act to amend certain Acts as a consequence of the enactment of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004, and for related purposes

[Assented to 14 December 2004]

The Parliament of Australia enacts:

1  Short title

  This Act may be cited as the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004.

2  Commencement

 (1) Each provision of this Act specified in column 1 of the table commences, or is taken to have commenced, in accordance with column 2 of the table. Any other statement in column 2 has effect according to its terms.

 

Commencement information

Column 1

Column 2

Column 3

Provision(s)

Commencement

Date/Details

1.  Sections 1 to 3 and anything in this Act not elsewhere covered by this table

The day on which this Act receives the Royal Assent.

14 December 2004

2.  Schedules 1 and 2

Immediately after the commencement of sections 3 to 49 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004.

11 January 2005

Note: This table relates only to the provisions of this Act as originally passed by the Parliament and assented to. It will not be expanded to deal with provisions inserted in this Act after assent.

 (2) Column 3 of the table contains additional information that is not part of this Act. Information in this column may be added to or edited in any published version of this Act.

3  Schedule(s)

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect according to its terms.


Schedule 1—Amendment of the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977

 

1  Subsection 9A(4) (definition of related criminal justice process decision)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

related criminal justice process decision, in relation to an offence, means:

 (a) a decision (other than a decision to prosecute) made in the criminal justice process in relation to the offence, including:

 (i) a decision in connection with the investigation, committal for trial or prosecution of the defendant; and

 (ii) a decision in connection with the appointment of investigators or inspectors for the purposes of such an investigation; and

 (iii) a decision in connection with the issue of a warrant, including a search warrant or a seizure warrant; and

 (iv) a decision requiring the production of documents, the giving of information or the summoning of persons as witnesses; and

 (v) a decision in connection with an appeal arising out of the prosecution; or

 (b) a decision of the AttorneyGeneral to give a certificate under section 26 or 28 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004 before or during a federal criminal proceeding (within the meaning of that Act) in relation to the offence.

Note: A decision to prosecute a person for an offence is not reviewable under this Act: see paragraph (xa) of Schedule 1.

2  After paragraph (d) of Schedule 2

Insert:

 (da) decisions of the AttorneyGeneral to give a certificate under section 26 or 28 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004;


Schedule 2—Amendment of the Judiciary Act 1903

 

1  Subsection 39B(3) (definition of related criminal justice process decision)

Repeal the definition, substitute:

related criminal justice process decision, in relation to an offence, means:

 (a) a decision (other than a decision to prosecute) made in the criminal justice process in relation to the offence, including:

 (i) a decision in connection with the investigation, committal for trial or prosecution of the defendant; and

 (ii) a decision in connection with the appointment of investigators or inspectors for the purposes of such an investigation; and

 (iii) a decision in connection with the issue of a warrant, including a search warrant or a seizure warrant; and

 (iv) a decision requiring the production of documents, the giving of information or the summoning of persons as witnesses; and

 (v) a decision in connection with an appeal arising out of the prosecution; or

 (b) a decision of the AttorneyGeneral to give a certificate under section 26 or 28 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004 before or during a federal criminal proceeding (within the meaning of that Act) in relation to the offence.

 

 

[Minister’s second reading speech made in—

Senate on 17 November 2004

House of Representatives on 7 December 2004]

 

(211/04)

 

 

Overview

The National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 was enacted by the Parliament of Australia to amend certain Acts in light of the new National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004. The overarching purpose of this legislation was to ensure that the amendments and consequential changes made to other Acts align with the provisions and objectives of the principal Act. This Act received Royal Assent on 14 December 2004 and certain provisions commenced on the same day, while the schedules took effect immediately after the commencement of sections 3 to 49 of the principal Act on 11 January 2005. The amendments primarily involve the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 and the Judiciary Act 1903, adjusting definitions and scopes of decisions considered in the criminal justice process to include decisions of the Attorney-General under the new Act.

Scope and Application

The National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 is a Commonwealth Act that amends certain legislative provisions as a consequence of the enactment of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004. The Act applies to decisions made by the Attorney-General under sections 26 or 28 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004, particularly in the context of federal criminal proceedings. It amends the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 and the Judiciary Act 1903 to redefine the scope of "related criminal justice process decision" to include decisions of the Attorney-General in relation to national security information. This Act commenced in stages, with sections 1 to 3 and unspecified provisions taking effect upon Royal Assent on 14 December 2004, and the schedules coming into force immediately after the commencement of specified sections of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004 on 11 January 2005. The Act does not explicitly state any exclusions, exemptions, or thresholds, but its amendments are confined to the specified Acts and do not extend to other legislative instruments unless otherwise provided.

Key Provisions

The National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2004 (C2004A01386) makes several amendments to existing legislation in response to the enactment of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004. The primary amendments are found in Schedule 1, which modifies the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977, and Schedule 2, which amends the Judiciary Act 1903. These amendments adjust the definitions of 'related criminal justice process decision' to encompass decisions made by the Attorney-General under the new Act, specifically those concerning the issuance of certificates under sections 26 or 28 of the National Security Information (Criminal Proceedings) Act 2004. These certificates are integral to the handling of national security information in criminal proceedings (Schedule 1, items 1 and 2; Schedule 2, item 1). The Act imposes specific obligations on the Attorney-General and other parties involved in criminal proceedings where national security information is at stake. For instance, the Attorney-General must ensure that decisions related to national security information are handled in a manner that protects sensitive information while allowing for a fair trial. Additionally, courts and other judicial officers must apply the new definitions and processes when reviewing related decisions, ensuring consistency and adherence to the legislative intent (Schedule 1, items 1 and 2; Schedule 2, item 1). Failure to comply with the requirements set out in this Act may result in legal consequences. While the Act does not explicitly outline criminal penalties, breaches of the amended definitions and processes could lead to judicial review under the Administrative Decisions (Judicial Review) Act 1977 or the Judiciary Act 1903. Courts may impose remedies or declare certain decisions invalid if they find that the new legislative provisions have not been followed. This underscores the importance of adhering to the amended definitions and procedures to avoid potential legal challenges and ensure the proper handling of national security information in criminal proceedings.

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