Criminal Code Act 1995

Schedule - The Criminal Code  

Section 3

CHAPTER 9 - DANGERS TO THE COMMUNITY  

Part 9.6 - Contamination of goods  

SECTION 380.4   Making false statements about contamination of goods  
Offences based on implied nationhood power

(1)    

A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person makes a statement that the person believes to be false; and

(b) the person does so with the intention of inducing the person to whom the statement is made or others to believe that goods have been contaminated; and

(c) the person does so with intent:

(i) to cause public alarm or anxiety in Australia; or

(ii) to cause widespread, or nationally significant, economic loss in Australia through public awareness of the contamination, or possible contamination, of the goods; or

(iii) to cause harm to, or create a risk of harm to, public health in Australia.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 15 years.

(1A)    

A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person makes a statement that the person believes to be false; and

(b) the person does so with the intention of inducing the person to whom the statement is made or others to believe that goods have been contaminated; and

(c) the person does so reckless as to:

(i) causing public alarm or anxiety in Australia; or

(ii) causing widespread, or nationally significant, economic loss in Australia through public awareness of the contamination, or possible contamination, of the goods; or

(iii) causing harm to, or creating a risk of harm to, public health in Australia.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.

Offences based on other constitutional powers

(2)    

A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person makes a statement that the person believes to be false; and

(b) the person does so with the intention of inducing the person to whom the statement is made or others to believe that goods have been contaminated; and

(c) the person does so with intent to cause:

(i) public alarm or anxiety; or

(ii) economic loss through public awareness of the contamination, or possible contamination, of the goods; and

(d) any of the following subparagraphs applies:

(i) the loss is a loss to a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(ii) the loss is a loss to a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(iii) the goods belong to a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(iv) the goods belong to a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(v) the person is a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(vi) the person is a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(vii) the loss takes the form of detriment to constitutional trade and commerce;

(viii) the goods are in the course of, or intended for, constitutional trade and commerce;

(ix) the person makes the statement in Australia using a postal or other like service or an electronic communication;

(x) the person makes the statement outside Australia and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(xi) the loss is a loss to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority;

(xii) the statement is made to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 15 years.

(2A)    

A person commits an offence if:

(a) the person makes a statement that the person believes to be false; and

(b) the person does so with the intention of inducing the person to whom the statement is made or others to believe that goods have been contaminated; and

(c) the person does so reckless as to causing:

(i) public alarm or anxiety; or

(ii) economic loss through public awareness of the contamination, or possible contamination, of the goods; and

(d) any of the following subparagraphs applies:

(i) the loss is a loss to a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(ii) the loss is a loss to a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(iii) the goods belong to a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(iv) the goods belong to a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(v) the person is a constitutional corporation (other than a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution);

(vi) the person is a constitutional corporation that is a foreign corporation within the meaning of paragraph 51(xx) of the Constitution and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(vii) the loss takes the form of detriment to constitutional trade and commerce;

(viii) the goods are in the course of, or intended for, constitutional trade and commerce;

(ix) the person makes the statement in Australia using a postal or other like service or an electronic communication;

(x) the person makes the statement outside Australia and the goods have been produced, manufactured, assembled or otherwise processed in Australia;

(xii) the loss is a loss to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority;

(xii) the statement is made to the Commonwealth or a Commonwealth authority.

Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.

(3)    

Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (2)(d) and (2A)(d).

(4)    
For the purposes of this section, making a statement includes conveying information by any means.