Other forms of cooperation

Commonwealth of Australia

Australia - Telecommunications Act 1979 (2016)

Part 1-2 — Interpretation

5B Exempt proceedings

(1) A reference in this Act to an exempt proceeding is a reference to:
(a) a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or
(b) a proceeding for the confiscation or forfeiture of property, or for the imposition of a pecuniary penalty, in connection with the commission of a prescribed offence; or
(ba) a proceeding under the Spam Act 2003; or
(bb) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 104 of the Criminal Code; or
(bc) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 105 of the Criminal Code, so far as the proceeding relates to a preventative detention order; or
(c) a proceeding for the taking of evidence pursuant to section 43 of the Extradition Act 1988, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or
(ca) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter
arising under, an organised crime control law; or
(d) a proceeding for the extradition of a person from a State or Territory to another State or Territory, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or
(da) a proceeding by way of a coroner’s inquest if, in the opinion of the coroner, the event that is the subject of the inquest may have resulted from the commission of a prescribed offence; or
(e) a police disciplinary proceeding; or
(ea) a proceeding in so far as it relates to:
(i) a decision by the Commissioner of Police to terminate the employment of an AFP employee or the appointment of a special member of the Australian Federal Police; or
(ii) a decision by the Commissioner of a Police Force of a State to terminate the appointment of an officer or member of staff of that Police Force; or
(f) any other proceeding (not being a proceeding by way of a prosecution for an offence) in so far as it relates to alleged misbehaviour, or alleged improper conduct, of an officer of the Commonwealth or of a State; or
(g) a proceeding for the recovery of an amount due to a carrier in connection with the supply of a telecommunications service;
(h) a proceeding under section 13 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 in relation to a criminal matter (within the meaning of that Act) that concerns an offence, against the laws of the foreign country that made the request resulting in the proceeding, that is punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or maximum period, of at least 3 years; or
(haa) a proceeding under Division 5 of Part 4 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or
(hab) a proceeding before the International Criminal Court sitting in Australia under Part 5 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or
(ha) a proceeding of an eligible Commonwealth authority; or (hb) a proceeding of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or
(hc) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or
(hd) a proceeding in relation to an application under subsection 34B(1) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 in respect of contempt of the Australian Crime Commission; or
(i) a proceeding of the Director, Police Integrity; or
(ia) a proceeding of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or (ib) a proceeding of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or
(j) a proceeding under Division 1 of Part 4 of the International War Crimes Tribunals Act 1995; or
(k) a proceeding of the Police Integrity Commission; or (ka) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Police Integrity Commission; or
(kb) a proceeding of the Crime and Misconduct Commission; or
(l) a proceeding by way of a bail application if the application relates to a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or
(m) a proceeding by way of review of a decision to refuse such a bail application; or
(n) a proceeding by way of a review of a decision to grant such a bail application.
Note: Paragraphs (l), (m) and (n) were inserted as a response to the decision
of the Court of Appeal of New South Wales in Director of Public Prosecutions v Serratore (1995) 132 ALR 461.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a reference in Chapter 3 to an exempt proceeding includes a reference to:
(a) a proceeding by way of a prosecution for an offence punishable:
(i) by imprisonment for a period, or a maximum period, of at least 12 months; or
(ii) by a fine, or a maximum fine, of at least 60 penalty units if the offence is committed by an individual; or
(iii) if the offence cannot be committed by an individual— by a fine, or a maximum fine, of at least 300 penalty units; or
(b) a proceeding for the confiscation or forfeiture of property, or for the imposition of a pecuniary penalty, in connection with the commission of such an offence; or
(c) a proceeding for the taking of evidence pursuant to section 43 of the Extradition Act 1988, in so far as the proceeding relates to such an offence; or
(d) a proceeding for the extradition of a person from a State or Territory to another State or Territory, in so far as the proceeding relates to such an offence; or
(e) a proceeding by way of a coroner’s inquest if, in the opinion of the coroner, the event that is the subject of the inquest may have resulted from the commission of such an offence; or
(f) a proceeding for recovery of a pecuniary penalty for a contravention that would, if proved, render the person committing the contravention liable to:
(i) a pecuniary penalty, or a maximum pecuniary penalty, of at least 60 penalty units if the contravention is committed by an individual; or
(ii) if the contravention cannot be committed by an individual—a pecuniary penalty, or a maximum pecuniary penalty, of at least 300 penalty units.


Part 1-2—Interpretation

5B Exempt proceedings

(1) A reference in this Act to an exempt proceeding is a reference to:
a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or
a proceeding for the confiscation or forfeiture of property, or for the imposition of a pecuniary penalty, in connection with the commission of a prescribed offence; or

(ba) a proceeding under the Spam Act 2003; or

(bb) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 104 of the Criminal Code; or

(bc) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 105 of the Criminal Code, so far as the proceeding relates to a preventative detention order; or a proceeding for the taking of evidence pursuant to section 43 of the Extradition Act 1988, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or

(ca) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, an organised crime control law; or a proceeding for the extradition of a person from a State or Territory to another State or Territory, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or

(da) a proceeding by way of a coroner’s inquest if, in the opinion of the coroner, the event that is the subject of the inquest may have resulted from the commission of a prescribed offence; or a police disciplinary proceeding; or

(ea) a proceeding in so far as it relates to: a decision by the Commissioner of Police to terminate the employment of an AFP employee or the appointment of a special member of the Australian Federal Police; or a decision by the Commissioner of a Police Force of a State to terminate the appointment of an officer or member of staff of that Police Force; or

(eb) a proceeding in so far as it is, or relates to, disciplinary or legal action (within the meaning of section 6S) that is in relation to an eligible staff member (within the meaning of that section) of the Australian Federal Police or the ACC; or any other proceeding (not being a proceeding by way of a prosecution for an offence) in so far as it relates to alleged misbehaviour, or alleged improper conduct, of an officer of the Commonwealth or of a State; or a proceeding for the recovery of an amount due to a carrier in connection with the supply of a telecommunications service; a proceeding under section 13 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 in relation to a criminal matter (within the meaning of that Act) that concerns an offence, against the laws of the foreign country that made the request resulting in the proceeding, that is punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or maximum period, of at least 3 years; or


(haa) a proceeding under Division 5 of Part 4 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or

(hab) a proceeding before the International Criminal Court sitting in Australia under Part 5 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or

(ha) a proceeding of an eligible Commonwealth authority; or (hb) a proceeding of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or

(hc) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or

(hd) a proceeding in relation to an application under subsection 34B(1) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 in respect of contempt of the Australian Crime Commission; or

(f) a proceeding of the IBAC; or

(iaa) a proceeding of the Victorian Inspectorate; or

(ia) a proceeding of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or

(ib) a proceeding of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or
a proceeding under Division 1 of Part 4 of the International War Crimes Tribunals Act 1995; or
a proceeding of the Police Integrity Commission; or

(ka) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Police Integrity
Commission; or

(kb) a proceeding of the Crime and Misconduct Commission; or (kc) a proceeding of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption; or a proceeding by way of a bail application if the application relates to a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or a proceeding by way of review of a decision to refuse such a bail application; or a proceeding by way of a review of a decision to grant such a bail application.

Part 1-2—Interpretation

5B Exempt proceedings

(1) A reference in this Act to an exempt proceeding is a reference to:
a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or
a proceeding for the confiscation or forfeiture of property, or for the imposition of a pecuniary penalty, in connection with the commission of a prescribed offence; or

(ba) a proceeding under the Spam Act 2003; or

(bb) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 104 of the Criminal Code; or

(bc) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, Division 105 of the Criminal Code, so far as the proceeding relates to a preventative detention order; or a proceeding for the taking of evidence pursuant to section 43 of the Extradition Act 1988, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or

(ca) a proceeding under, or a proceeding relating to a matter arising under, an organised crime control law; or a proceeding for the extradition of a person from a State or Territory to another State or Territory, in so far as the proceeding relates to a prescribed offence; or

(da) a proceeding by way of a coroner’s inquest if, in the opinion of the coroner, the event that is the subject of the inquest may have resulted from the commission of a prescribed offence; or a police disciplinary proceeding; or

(ea) a proceeding in so far as it relates to: a decision by the Commissioner of Police to terminate the employment of an AFP employee or the appointment of a special member of the Australian Federal Police; or a decision by the Commissioner of a Police Force of a State to terminate the appointment of an officer or member of staff of that Police Force; or

(eb) a proceeding in so far as it is, or relates to, disciplinary or legal action (within the meaning of section 6S) that is in relation to an eligible staff member (within the meaning of that section) of the Australian Federal Police or the ACC; or any other proceeding (not being a proceeding by way of a prosecution for an offence) in so far as it relates to alleged misbehaviour, or alleged improper conduct, of an officer of the Commonwealth or of a State; or a proceeding for the recovery of an amount due to a carrier in connection with the supply of a telecommunications service; a proceeding under section 13 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987 in relation to a criminal matter (within the meaning of that Act) that concerns an offence, against the laws of the foreign country that made the request resulting in the proceeding, that is punishable by imprisonment for life or for a period, or maximum period, of at least 3 years; or

(haa) a proceeding under Division 5 of Part 4 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or

(hab) a proceeding before the International Criminal Court sitting in Australia under Part 5 of the International Criminal Court Act 2002; or

(ha) a proceeding of an eligible Commonwealth authority; or (hb) a proceeding of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or

(hc) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Independent Commission Against Corruption; or

(hd) a proceeding in relation to an application under subsection 34B(1) of the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 in respect of contempt of the Australian Crime Commission; or

(f) a proceeding of the IBAC; or

(iaa) a proceeding of the Victorian Inspectorate; or

(ia) a proceeding of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or

(ib) a proceeding of the Parliamentary Inspector of the Corruption and Crime Commission; or
a proceeding under Division 1 of Part 4 of the International War Crimes Tribunals Act 1995; or
a proceeding of the Police Integrity Commission; or

(ka) a proceeding of the Inspector of the Police Integrity
Commission; or

(kb) a proceeding of the Crime and Misconduct Commission; or (kc) a proceeding of the Independent Commissioner Against Corruption; or a proceeding by way of a bail application if the application relates to a proceeding by way of a prosecution for a prescribed offence; or a proceeding by way of review of a decision to refuse such a bail application; or a proceeding by way of a review of a decision to grant such a bail application.

(2) Without limiting subsection (1), a reference in Chapter 3 to an exempt proceeding includes a reference to:

(a) a proceeding by way of a prosecution for an offence punishable:

(i) by imprisonment for a period, or a maximum period, of at least 12 months; or

(ii) by a fine, or a maximum fine, of at least 60 penalty units if the offence is committed by an individual; or

(iii) if the offence cannot be committed by an individual— by a fine, or a maximum fine, of at least 300 penalty units; or

(b) a proceeding for the confiscation or forfeiture of property, or for the imposition of a pecuniary penalty, in connection with the commission of such an offence; or

(c) a proceeding for the taking of evidence pursuant to section 43 of the Extradition Act 1988, in so far as the proceeding relates to such an offence; or

(d) a proceeding for the extradition of a person from a State or Territory to another State or Territory, in so far as the proceeding relates to such an offence; or

(e) a proceeding by way of a coroner’s inquest if, in the opinion of the coroner, the event that is the subject of the inquest may have resulted from the commission of such an offence; or

(f) a proceeding for recovery of a pecuniary penalty for a contravention that would, if proved, render the person committing the contravention liable to:

(i) a pecuniary penalty, or a maximum pecuniary penalty, of at least 60 penalty units if the contravention is committed by an individual; or

(ii) if the contravention cannot be committed by an individual—a pecuniary penalty, or a maximum pecuniary penalty, of at least 300 penalty units

Rome Statute

Article 93 Other forms of cooperation

1. States Parties shall, in accordance with the provisions of this Part and under procedures of national law, comply with requests by the Court to provide the following assistance in relation to investigations or prosecutions:

(a) The identification and whereabouts of persons or the location of items;

(b) The taking of evidence, including testimony under oath, and the production of evidence, including expert opinions and reports necessary to the Court;

(c) The questioning of any person being investigated or prosecuted;

(d) The service of documents, including judicial documents;

(e) Facilitating the voluntary appearance of persons as witnesses or experts before the Court;

(f) The temporary transfer of persons as provided in paragraph 7;

(g) The examination of places or sites, including the exhumation and examination of grave sites;

(h) The execution of searches and seizures;

(i) The provision of records and documents, including official records and documents;

(j) The protection of victims and witnesses and the preservation of evidence;

(k) The identification, tracing and freezing or seizure of proceeds, property and assets and instrumentalities of crimes for the purpose of eventual forfeiture, without prejudice to the rights of bona fide third parties; and

(l) Any other type of assistance which is not prohibited by the law of the requested State, with a view to facilitating the investigation and prosecution of crimes within the jurisdiction of the Court.

2. The Court shall have the authority to provide an assurance to a witness or an expert appearing before the Court that he or she will not be prosecuted, detained or subjected to any restriction of personal freedom by the Court in respect of any act or omission that preceded the departure of that person from the requested State.

3. Where execution of a particular measure of assistance detailed in a request presented under paragraph 1, is prohibited in the requested State on the basis of an existing fundamental legal principle of general application, the requested State shall promptly consult with the Court to try to resolve the matter. In the consultations, consideration should be given to whether the assistance can be rendered in another manner or subject to conditions. If after consultations the matter cannot be resolved, the Court shall modify the request as necessary.

4. In accordance with article 72, a State Party may deny a request for assistance, in whole or in part, only if the request concerns the production of any documents or disclosure of evidence which relates to its national security.

5. Before denying a request for assistance under paragraph 1 (l), the requested State shall consider whether the assistance can be provided subject to specified conditions, or whether the assistance can be provided at a later date or in an alternative manner, provided that if the Court or the Prosecutor accepts the assistance subject to conditions, the Court or the Prosecutor shall abide by them.

6. If a request for assistance is denied, the requested State Party shall promptly inform the Court or the Prosecutor of the reasons for such denial.

7.

(a) The Court may request the temporary transfer of a person in custody for purposes of identification or for obtaining testimony or other assistance. The person may be transferred if the following conditions are fulfilled:

(i) The person freely gives his or her informed consent to the transfer; and

(ii) The requested State agrees to the transfer, subject to such conditions as that State and the Court may agree.

(b) The person being transferred shall remain in custody. When the purposes of the transfer have been fulfilled, the Court shall return the person without delay to the requested State.

8.

(a) The Court shall ensure the confidentiality of documents and information, except as required for the investigation and proceedings described in the request.

(b) The requested State may, when necessary, transmit documents or information to the Prosecutor on a confidential basis. The Prosecutor may then use them solely for the purpose of generating new evidence.

(c) The requested State may, on its own motion or at the request of the Prosecutor, subsequently consent to the disclosure of such documents or information. They may then be used as evidence pursuant to the provisions of Parts 5 and 6 and in accordance with the Rules of Procedure and Evidence.

9.

(a)

(i) In the event that a State Party receives competing requests, other than for surrender or extradition, from the Court and from another State pursuant to an international obligation, the State Party shall endeavour, in consultation with the Court and the other State, to meet both requests, if necessary by postponing or attaching conditions to one or the other request.

(ii) Failing that, competing requests shall be resolved in accordance with the principles established in article 90.

(b) Where, however, the request from the Court concerns information, property or persons which are subject to the control of a third State or an international organization by virtue of an international agreement, the requested States shall so inform the Court and the Court shall direct its request to the third State or international organization.

10.

(a) The Court may, upon request, cooperate with and provide assistance to a State Party conducting an investigation into or trial in respect of conduct which constitutes a crime within the jurisdiction of the Court or which constitutes a serious crime under the national law of the requesting State.

(b)

(i) The assistance provided under subparagraph (a) shall include, inter alia:

a. The transmission of statements, documents or other types of evidence obtained in the course of an investigation or a trial conducted by the Court; and

b. The questioning of any person detained by order of the Court;

(ii) In the case of assistance under subparagraph (b) (i) a:

a. If the documents or other types of evidence have been obtained with the assistance of a State, such transmission shall require the consent of that State;

b. If the statements, documents or other types of evidence have been provided by a witness or expert, such transmission shall be subject to the provisions of article 68.

(c) The Court may, under the conditions set out in this paragraph, grant a request for assistance under this paragraph from a State which is not a Party to this Statute.

Article 96 Contents of request for other forms of assistance under article 93

1. A request for other forms of assistance referred to in article 93 shall be made in writing. In urgent cases, a request may be made by any medium capable of delivering a written record, provided that the request shall be confirmed through the channel provided for in article 87, paragraph 1 (a).

2. The request shall, as applicable, contain or be supported by the following:

(a) A concise statement of the purpose of the request and the assistance sought, including the legal basis and the grounds for the request;

(b) As much detailed information as possible about the location or identification of any person or place that must be found or identified in order for the assistance sought to be provided;

(c) A concise statement of the essential facts underlying the request;

(d) The reasons for and details of any procedure or requirement to be followed;

(e) Such information as may be required under the law of the requested State in order to execute the request; and

(f) Any other information relevant in order for the assistance sought to be provided.

3. Upon the request of the Court, a State Party shall consult with the Court, either generally or with respect to a specific matter, regarding any requirements under its national law that may apply under paragraph 2 (e). During the consultations, the State Party shall advise the Court of the specific requirements of its national law.

4. The provisions of this article shall, where applicable, also apply in respect of a request for assistance made to the Court.