Explanatory Memorandum
(Circulated by authority of the Minister for Justice, the Hon Michael Keenan MP)Statement of compatibility with human rights Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Penalty Unit) Bill 2015
4. This Bill is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 .
Overview of the Bill
5. The Bill amends the Crimes Act 1914 to increase the value of the penalty unit for Commonwealth criminal offences from $170 to $180. This amendment is broadly consistent with inflation since the penalty unit amount was last adjusted in 2012. It also provides for the penalty unit amount to be automatically adjusted every three years in line with inflation.
6. Penalty units only apply where a person or company has committed a Commonwealth offence. The increase to the penalty unit value will only apply to offences committed after the amendments come into force. The amendment to the value of the penalty unit will not impact on current proceedings for Commonwealth offences.
Human rights implications
7. The Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms.
Conclusion
8. The Bill does not engage any of the applicable rights or freedoms. The penalty unit measures in the Bill are compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in the definition of human rights in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011 .