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.




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