Contents

Part 1--Preliminary                                                                                                              1

1............ Short title [see Note 1] ........................................................................ 1

2............ Commencement [see Note 1] .............................................................. 1

3............ Purposes ............................................................................................. 1

4............ Relationship to other laws and matters ................................................ 1

5............ Schedule(s) ......................................................................................... 2

6............ Definitions .......................................................................................... 2

6A......... Authorisation of appropriate authorising officers .............................. 12

6B......... Authorisation of law enforcement officer .......................................... 13

7............ State offence that has a federal aspect ................................................ 14

8............ External Territories ............................................................................ 14

9............ Binding the Crown ............................................................................ 14

Part 2--Warrants                                                                                                                 15

Division 1--Introduction                                                                                           15

10.......... Types of warrant ............................................................................... 15

11.......... Who may issue warrants? ................................................................. 15

12.......... Eligible Judges .................................................................................. 15

13.......... Nominated AAT members ................................................................ 16

Division 2--Surveillance device warrants                                                        17

14.......... Application for surveillance device warrant ...................................... 17

15.......... Remote application ............................................................................ 18

16.......... Determining the application ............................................................... 18

17.......... What must a surveillance device warrant contain? ............................. 19

18.......... What a surveillance device warrant authorises .................................. 21

19.......... Extension and variation of surveillance device warrant ..................... 23

20.......... Revocation of surveillance device warrant ........................................ 23

21.......... Discontinuance of use of surveillance device under warrant ............. 24

Division 3--Retrieval warrants                                                                             26

22.......... Application for retrieval warrant ....................................................... 26

23.......... Remote application ............................................................................ 27

24.......... Determining the application ............................................................... 27

25.......... What must a retrieval warrant contain? .............................................. 27

26.......... What a retrieval warrant authorises ................................................... 28

27.......... Revocation of retrieval warrant ......................................................... 29

Part 3--Emergency authorisations                                                                            31

28.......... Emergency authorisation--serious risks to person or property ......... 31

29.......... Emergency authorisation--urgent circumstances relating to recovery order              31

30.......... Emergency authorisation--risk of loss of evidence .......................... 32

31.......... Record of emergency authorisations to be made ............................... 33

32.......... Attributes of emergency authorisations ............................................. 33

33.......... Application for approval of emergency authorisation ........................ 34

34.......... Consideration of application .............................................................. 34

35.......... Judge or nominated AAT member may approve giving of emergency authorisations               36

36.......... Admissibility of evidence .................................................................. 38

Part 4--Use of certain surveillance devices without warrant                    39

37.......... Use of optical surveillance devices without warrant .......................... 39

38.......... Use of surveillance devices without warrant for listening to or recording words in limited circumstances               40

39.......... Use and retrieval of tracking devices without warrant in certain circumstances         42

40.......... Record of tracking device authorisations to be kept .......................... 44

Part 5--Extraterritorial operation of warrants                                                 46

41.......... Definitions ........................................................................................ 46

42.......... Extraterritorial operation of warrants ................................................. 46

43.......... Evidence obtained from extraterritorial surveillance not to be tendered in evidence unless court satisfied properly obtained ............................................................................................. 49

Part 6--Compliance and monitoring                                                                        50

Division 1--Restrictions on use, communication and publication of information             50

44.......... What is protected information? .......................................................... 50

45.......... Prohibition on use, recording, communication or publication of protected information or its admission in evidence .......................................................................................................... 51

46.......... Dealing with records obtained by use of surveillance devices ........... 55

47.......... Protection of surveillance device technologies and methods ............. 56

48.......... Protected information in the custody of a court, tribunal or Royal Commission        57

Division 2--Reporting and record-keeping                                                     58

49.......... Report on each warrant or authorisation ............................................ 58

50.......... Annual reports .................................................................................. 60

51.......... Keeping documents connected with warrants, emergency authorisations and tracking device authorisations            61

52.......... Other records to be kept .................................................................... 62

53.......... Register of warrants, emergency authorisations and tracking device authorisations 63

Division 3--Inspections                                                                                              66

54.......... Appointment of inspecting officers ................................................... 66

55.......... Inspection of records ......................................................................... 66

56.......... Power to obtain relevant information ................................................ 67

57.......... Ombudsman to be given information and access despite other laws . 68

58.......... Exchange of information between Ombudsman and State inspecting authorities      69

59.......... Delegation by Ombudsman ............................................................... 69

60.......... Ombudsman not to be sued ............................................................... 70

61.......... Report on inspection ......................................................................... 70

Division 4--General                                                                                                     71

62.......... Evidentiary certificates ...................................................................... 71

Part 7--Miscellaneous                                                                                                        73

63.......... Delegation by chief officer of law enforcement agency ..................... 73

64.......... Compensation for loss or injury ........................................................ 73

65.......... Minor defects in connection with warrant or other authority ............. 73

66.......... Regulations ....................................................................................... 74

Schedule 1--Amendment of other legislation and transitional and saving provisions     75

Australian Federal Police Act 1979                                                                       75

Criminal Code Act 1995                                                                                           76

Customs Act 1901                                                                                                       77

Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987                                                78

Notes                                                                                                                                              81

  

Notes to the Surveillance Devices Act 2004

Note 1

The Surveillance Devices Act 2004 as shown in this compilation comprises Act No. 152, 2004 amended as indicated in the Tables below.

For all relevant information pertaining to application, saving or transitional provisions see Table A.

Table of Acts

Act	Number and year	Date of Assent	Date of commencement	Application, saving or transitional provisions
Surveillance Devices Act 2004	152, 2004	15 Dec 2004	15 Dec 2004
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005	129, 2005	8 Nov 2005	Schedule 1 (items 68, 69, 75, 76): 6 Dec 2005	Sch. 1 (items 75, 76)
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Video Link Evidence and Other Measures) Act 2005	136, 2005	15 Nov 2005	16 Nov 2005	--
Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005	144, 2005	14 Dec 2005	Schedule 7 (items 15-18): 11 Jan 2006 Schedule 9 (item 24): (a)	S. 2(1) (item 19) (am. by 170, 2006, Sch. 1 [item 11])
as amended by
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006	170, 2006	12 Dec 2006	Schedule 1 (item 11): (b)	--
Statute Law Revision Act 2006	9, 2006	23 Mar 2006	Schedule 1 (items 25, 26): (c)	--
Telecommunications (Interception) Amendment Act 2006	40, 2006	3 May 2006	Schedule 1 (items 23, 24): 13 June 2006 (see F2006L01623)	--
Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner (Consequential Amendments) Act 2006	86, 2006	30 June 2006	Schedule 1 (items 60-70): 30 Dec 2006 (see s. 2(1))	--
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006	170, 2006	12 Dec 2006	Schedule 1 (item 158): 13 Dec 2006 (see s. 2(1))	--
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Marking of Plastic Explosives) Act 2007	3, 2007	19 Feb 2007	Schedules 1-3: 25 Aug 2007 Remainder: Royal Assent	--
Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Amendment Act 2007	52, 2007	12 Apr 2007	Schedule 1 (items 63, 64): 13 Apr 2007	--
Fisheries Legislation Amendment Act 2007	104, 2007	28 June 2007	Schedule 4: 26 July 2007	--
Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act 2008	95, 2008	3 Oct 2008	Schedule 1: 4 Oct 2008	Sch. 1 (items 9, 10)
Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act (No. 1) 2009	32, 2009	22 May 2009	Schedule 2 (item 1): 23 May 2009	--
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010	4, 2010	19 Feb 2010	Schedule 7 (items 24, 29): 20 Feb 2010	Sch. 7 (item 29)
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Act 2010	42, 2010	14 Apr 2010	Schedule 1 (items 72-74): 15 Apr 2010	Sch. 1 (item 74)
Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Act 2010	50, 2010	31 May 2010	Schedule 1 (items 14-16): 1 June 2010	Sch. 1 (item 16)
Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011	46, 2011	27 June 2011	Schedule 2 (items 1099-1101) and Schedule 3 (items 10, 11): 27 Dec 2011	Sch. 3 (items 10, 11)
Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2012	7, 2012	20 Mar 2012	Schedule 3 (items 51, 52, 54-69): [see Note 2 and Table A] Schedule 3 (item 53) and Schedule 4 (item 4): [see Note 2]	Sch. 3 (item 69)
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Powers and Offences) Act 2012	24, 2012	4 Apr 2012	Schedule 4 (item 53): 5 Apr 2012	--

(a)     Subsection 2(1) (item 19) of the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005 provides as follows:

                 (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
19.  Schedule 9, items 18 to 24	14 December 2006. However, if section 3 of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing Act 2006 commences before 14 December 2006, the provision(s) do not commence at all.	Do not commence

(b)     Subsection 2(1) (item 3) of the Anti-Money Laundering and Counter-Terrorism Financing (Transitional Provisions and Consequential Amendments) Act 2006 provides as follows:

                 (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.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
3.  Schedule 1, items 2 to 11	Immediately after the commencement of section 2 of the Anti-Terrorism Act (No. 2) 2005.	14 December 2005

(c)     Subsection 2(1) (item 17) of the Statute Law Revision Act 2006 provides as follows:

                 (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.

 

Provision(s)	Commencement	Date/Details
17.  Schedule 1, items 25 and 26	Immediately after the commencement of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004.	15 December 2004

Table of Amendments

ad. = added or inserted  am. = amended     rep. = repealed     rs. = repealed and substituted
Provision affected	How affected
Part 1
S. 3....................................	am. No. 9, 2006
S. 6....................................	am. Nos. 86 and 170, 2006; Nos. 52 and 104, 2007; No. 95, 2008; No. 32, 2009; No. 4, 2010; No. 24, 2012
Ss. 6A, 6B..........................	ad. No. 95, 2008
Part 2
Division 2
S. 18..................................	am. No. 40, 2006
Division 3
S. 22..................................	am. No. 136, 2005
Part 3
S. 30..................................	am. Nos. 129 and 144, 2005; No. 3, 2007; Nos. 42 and 50, 2010
S. 32..................................	am. No. 40, 2006
Part 4
S. 37..................................	am. Nos. 9 and 86, 2006
S. 38..................................	am. No. 86, 2006
Note to s. 39(8).................	ad. No. 136, 2005
Part 5
S. 41..................................	am. No. 46, 2011
S. 42..................................	am. No. 104, 2007
Part 6
Division 1
S. 44..................................	am. No. 46, 2011
Part 7
S. 64..................................	am. No. 86, 2006

Note 2

Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (No. 7, 2012)

The following amendments commence on 20 September 2012 unless proclaimed earlier:

Schedule 3

51  Subsection 6(1)

Insert:

investigative proceeding has the same meaning as in the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987.

52  Subsection 6(1)

Insert:

mutual assistance application means an application for a surveillance device warrant made under a mutual assistance authorisation.

54  After subsection 14(3)

Insert:

          (3A)  A law enforcement officer (or another person on his or her behalf) may apply for the issue of a surveillance device warrant if he or she:

                     (a)  is authorised to do so under a mutual assistance authorisation; and

                     (b)  suspects on reasonable grounds that the use of a surveillance device is necessary, in the course of the investigation or investigative proceeding to which the authorisation relates, for the purpose of enabling evidence to be obtained of:

                              (i)  the commission of the offence to which the authorisation relates; or

                             (ii)  the identity or location of the persons suspected of committing the offence.

55  Subsection 14(4)

Omit "(1) or (3)", substitute "(1), (3) or (3A)".

56  After paragraph 16(1)(b)

Insert:

                   (ba)  in the case of a warrant sought in relation to a mutual assistance authorisation--that such an authorisation is in force and that there are reasonable grounds for the suspicion founding the application for the warrant; and

57  Paragraph 16(2)(a)

After "relevant offence", insert "or a mutual assistance authorisation".

58  Paragraph 16(2)(e)

Before "the likely", insert "in the case of a warrant sought in relation to a relevant offence or a recovery order--".

59  After paragraph 16(2)(e)

Insert:

                    (ea)  in the case of a warrant sought in relation to a mutual assistance authorisation--the likely evidentiary or intelligence value of any evidence or information sought to be obtained, to the extent that this is possible to determine from information obtained from the foreign country to which the authorisation relates; and

60  After subparagraph 17(1)(b)(iii)

Insert:

                          (iiia)  if the warrant relates to a mutual assistance authorisation--the offence or offences against the law of a foreign country to which the authorisation relates; and

61  Subsection 20(2)

Omit "or 21(3)(a) and (b)", substitute ", 21(3)(a) and (b) or 21(3A)(a) and (b)".

62  After subsection 21(3)

Insert:

          (3A)  If:

                     (a)  a surveillance device warrant has been sought by or on behalf of a law enforcement officer as authorised under a mutual assistance authorisation; and

                     (b)  the chief officer of the law enforcement agency to which the law enforcement officer belongs or is seconded is satisfied that the use of a surveillance device is no longer required for the purpose of enabling evidence to be obtained of:

                              (i)  the commission of the offence against a law of a foreign country to which the authorisation relates; or

                             (ii)  the identity or location of the persons suspected of committing the offence;

the chief officer must, in addition to revoking the warrant under section 20, take the steps necessary to ensure that use of the surveillance device authorised by the warrant is discontinued.

63  After paragraph 21(5)(b)

Insert:

                 or (c)  if the warrant was issued in relation to a mutual assistance authorisation--of enabling evidence to be obtained of:

                              (i)  the commission of the offence against a law of a foreign country to which the authorisation relates; or

                             (ii)  the identity or location of the persons suspected of committing the offence;

64  Paragraph 45(4)(f)

Repeal the paragraph, substitute:

                      (f)  the communication of information for the purpose of providing the information to a foreign country, or an appropriate authority of a foreign country, if:

                              (i)  the provision of the information has been authorised under subsection 13A(1) of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987; or

                             (ii)  the information was obtained under, or relates to, a surveillance device warrant issued in relation to a mutual assistance authorisation.

65  After paragraph 50(1)(a)

Insert:

                    (aa)  the number of mutual assistance applications made by or on behalf of, and the number of warrants issued as a result of such applications to, law enforcement officers of the agency during that year; and

66  After paragraph 50(1)(e)

Insert:

                    (ea)  the number of mutual assistance applications made by or on behalf of law enforcement officers of the agency that were refused during that year, and the reasons for refusal; and

67  After paragraph 50(1)(i)

Insert:

                    (ia)  for each offence (the foreign offence) against a law of a foreign country in respect of which a warrant was issued as a result of a mutual assistance application made by or on behalf of law enforcement officers of the agency during the year--the offence (if any), under a law of the Commonwealth, or of a State or a Territory, that is of the same nature as, or a substantially similar nature to, the foreign offence; and

68  After subparagraph 53(2)(c)(iii)

Insert:

                          (iiia)  if the warrant was issued in relation to a mutual assistance authorisation--the offence against the law of the foreign country to which the authorisation relates; and

The following amendments commence on 20 September 2012 unless proclaimed earlier. However, the amendments may not commence, see subsection 2(1) (items 9 and 14):

Schedule 3

53  Subsection 6(1)

Insert:

mutual assistance authorisation means an authorisation under subsection 15F(1) of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987.

Schedule 4

4  Subsection 6(1)

Insert:

mutual assistance authorisation means an authorisation under subsection 15CA(1) of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987.

As at 30 April 2012 the amendments are not incorporated in this compilation.

Table A

Application, saving or transitional provisions

Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Serious Drug Offences and Other Measures) Act 2005 (No. 129, 2005)

Schedule 1

75  Application of amendments to conduct before and after commencement

(1)       In this item:

earlier conduct means conduct engaged in before the commencement of this Schedule.

engage in conduct has the same meaning as in the Criminal Code.

later conduct means conduct engaged in after the commencement of this Schedule.

new law means Part 9.1 of the Criminal Code as in force from time to time.

old law means:

                     (a)  the provisions of Division 2 of Part XIII of the Customs Act 1901 as in force from time to time before the commencement of this Schedule to the extent to which those provisions related to narcotic substances; and

                     (b)  any law related to those provisions.

(2)       The amendments made by this Schedule do not apply in relation to earlier conduct.

(3)       Despite the amendments made by this Schedule, the old law continues to apply in relation to later conduct if:

                     (a)  the later conduct is related to earlier conduct; and

                     (b)  because of that relationship, the later conduct would have constituted a physical element (or a part of a physical element) of an offence against the old law, had the old law remained in force.

(4)       If later conduct is alleged against a person in a prosecution for an offence against the old law, that conduct must not be alleged against the person in a prosecution for:

                     (a)  an offence against the new law; or

                     (b)  an offence related to an offence against the new law.

76  Transitional regulations

(1)       The regulations may make provision for matters of a transitional nature (including any saving or application provisions) arising from the amendments or repeals made by this Schedule.

(2)       The Governor-General may make regulations for the purposes of subitem (1).

Telecommunications Interception Legislation Amendment Act 2008
(No. 95, 2008)

Schedule 1

9  Transitional provision--appropriate authorising officer

(1)       This item applies to an authorisation in force, immediately before the commencement of this item, under one of the following provisions of the definition of appropriate authorising officer in relation to a law enforcement officer in subsection 6(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (as in force at that time):

                     (a)  subparagraph (a)(iii);

                     (b)  subparagraph (aa)(iii);

                     (c)  subparagraph (b)(ii);

                     (d)  subparagraph (d)(ii);

                     (e)  subparagraph (e)(iii);

                      (f)  subparagraph (f)(iii).

(2)       The authorisation has effect, on and after the commencement of this item, as if it were an authorisation in force under:

                     (a)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (a)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(1) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (b)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (aa)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(2) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 this Schedule); or

                     (c)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (b)(ii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(3) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (d)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (d)(ii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(4) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                     (e)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (e)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(5) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule); or

                      (f)  in the case of an authorisation under subparagraph (f)(iii) of the definition of appropriate authorising officer--subsection 6A(6) of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule).

(3)       To avoid doubt, the amendments made by this Schedule do not affect the validity of anything done before the commencement of this item in relation to, or in reliance on, an authorisation to which this item applies.

10  Transitional provision--law enforcement officer

(1)       This item applies to an authorisation in force, immediately before the commencement of this item, under subparagraph (aa)(iii) of the definition of law enforcement officer in subsection 6(1) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 (as in force at that time).

(2)       The authorisation has effect, on and after the commencement of this item, as if it were an authorisation in force under section 6B of that Act (as inserted by item 8 of this Schedule).

(3)       To avoid doubt, the amendments made by this Schedule do not affect the validity of anything done before the commencement of this item in relation to, or in reliance on, an authorisation to which this item applies.

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010 (No. 4, 2010)

Schedule 7

29  Application of amendments made by items 24 and 25

The amendments made by items 24 and 25 of this Schedule apply to information obtained before, on or after the commencement of this item.

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Offences Against Children) Act 2010 (No. 42, 2010)

Schedule 1

74  Application

Despite the amendment made by item 72, subparagraph 30(1)(a)(iii) of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004, as in force immediately before the commencement of this item, continues to apply in relation to an offence against Part IIIA of the Crimes Act 1914, as in force at any time before that commencement.

Anti-People Smuggling and Other Measures Act 2010 (No. 50, 2010)

Schedule 1

16  Application

Section 30 of the Surveillance Devices Act 2004 as amended by this Act applies to investigations begun on or after commencement.

Acts Interpretation Amendment Act 2011 (No. 46, 2011)

Schedule 3

10  Saving--appointments

The amendments made by Schedule 2 do not affect the validity of an appointment that was made under an Act before the commencement of this item and that was in force immediately before that commencement.

11  Transitional regulations

The Governor-General may make regulations prescribing matters of a transitional nature (including prescribing any saving or application provisions) relating to the amendments and repeals made by Schedules 1 and 2.

Extradition and Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Legislation Amendment Act 2012 (No. 7, 2012)

The following provision commences on 20 September 2012 unless proclaimed earlier:

Schedule 3

69  Application of amendments made by this Division

The amendments made by this Division apply in relation to a request by a foreign country that is under consideration on or after the commencement of this item, whether the request was made before or after that commencement.