{"id":"F1996B01213","name":"Extradition (Swiss Confederation) Regulations","slug":"extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":"135 of 1990","makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":29029,"registerId":"commonwealth-F1996B01213-current","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-01","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Extradition (Swiss Confederation) Regulations","content":"![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.png)\n\nStatutory Rules 1990 No. 1351\n\nExtradition (Swiss Confederation)\n\nRegulations\n\nI, THE GOVERNOR-GENERAL of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, hereby make the following Regulations under the Extradition Act 1988.\n\nDated 18 June 1990.\n\nBILL HAYDEN\n\nGovernor-General\n\nBy His Excellency’s Command,\n\nMichael Duffy\n\nAttorney-General\n\nCitation\n\n1. These Regulations may be cited as the Extradition (Swiss Confederation) Regulations.\n\nCommencement\n\n2. These Regulations commence on 1 January 1991.\n\nInterpretation\n\n3. In these Regulations, unless the contrary intention appears:\n\n“the Act” means the Extradition Act 1988.\n\nDeclaration of Swiss Confederation as extradition country\n\n4. The Swiss Confederation is declared to be an extradition country.\n\n(S.R. 214/89)—Cat. No. 14/4.6.1990\n\n  \n\nApplication of Act\n\n5. The Act applies in relation to the Swiss Confederation subject to the Treaty between Australia and Switzerland on Extradition done at Sydney on 29 July 1988 (being the treaty a copy of the English text of which is set out in the Schedule).\n\nSCHEDULE Regulation 5\n\nTREATY BETWEEN AUSTRALIA AND SWITZERLAND ON EXTRADITION\n\nAustralia and the Swiss Confederation,\n\nDESIRING to provide for more effective co-operation between the two States in the repression of crime and to facilitate the relations between the two States in the area of extradition,\n\nHAVE AGREED as follows:\n\nARTICLE 1\n\nObligation to Extradite\n\nEach Contracting Party agrees to extradite to the other, in accordance with the provisions of this Treaty, any person who is wanted for prosecution, sentencing or the carrying out of a sentence or detention order in the Requesting State, for an extraditable offence.\n\nARTICLE 2\n\nExtraditable Offences\n\n1\\. For the purposes of this Treaty, extraditable offences are offences which are punishable under the laws of both Contracting Parties by imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty for a maximum period of at least one year or by a more severe penalty. Where the request for extradition relates to a person convicted of such an offence who is wanted for the enforcement of a sentence of imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty, extradition shall be granted only if a period of at least six months imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty remains to be served.\n\n2\\. To the extent permitted under the law of the Requested State, where a person is to be extradited for an extraditable offence, extradition may also be granted in respect of offences which are punishable under the laws of both Contracting Parties by imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty for a period of less than one year or by a less severe penalty.\n\n3\\. For the purpose of this Article in determining whether an offence is an offence against the law of both Contracting Parties:\n\n(a) it shall not matter whether the laws of the Contracting Parties place the acts or omissions constituting the offence within the same category of offence or denominate the offence by the same terminology;\n\n(b) the totality of the acts or omissions alleged against the person whose extradition is sought shall be taken into account and it shall not matter whether, under the laws of the Contracting Parties, the constituent elements of the offence differ.\n\n  \nSCHEDULE—continued\n\n4\\. Extradition shall be granted pursuant to the provisions of this Treaty irrespective of when the offence for which extradition is requested was committed, provided that:\n\n(a) it was an offence in the Requesting State at the time of the acts or omissions constituting the offence; and\n\n(b) the acts or omissions alleged would, if they had taken place in the territory of the Requested State at the time of the making of the request for extradition, have constituted an offence against the law in force in that State.\n\n5\\. If the offence for which extradition is requested has been committed outside the territory of the Requesting State extradition shall be granted, subject to the provisions of this Treaty, if the person whose extradition is requested is a national of the Requesting State. If the person whose extradition is requested in respect of such an offence is not a national of the Requesting State the Requested State may, in its discretion, grant extradition.\n\nARTICLE 3\n\nExceptions to Extradition\n\n1\\. Extradition shall not be granted in any of the following circumstances, if:\n\n(a) the offence for which extradition is requested is regarded by the Requested State as a political or fiscal offence or an offence only under military law;\n\n(b) the offence of which the person sought is accused or convicted, or any other offence for which the person may be detained or tried in accordance with this Treaty, carries the death penalty under the law of the Requesting State unless that State undertakes that the death penalty will not be imposed or, if imposed, will not be carried out;\n\n(c) there are substantial grounds for believing that a request for extradition for an ordinary criminal offence has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of that person’s race, religion, nationality or political opinion or that the person’s position may be prejudiced for any of those reasons;\n\n(d) final judgment has been rendered in the Requested State or in a third state in respect of the offence for which the person’s extradition is requested:\n\n\\- if the afore-mentioned judgment resulted in the person’s acquittal:\n\n\\- if the term of imprisonment or other deprivation of liberty to which the person was sentenced has been completely enforced, or has been wholly or with respect to the part not enforced, the subject of a pardon or an amnesty; or\n\n\\- if the court convicted the person without imposing a penalty; or\n\n(e) the person whose extradition is requested cannot, according to the law of either Contracting Party, be prosecuted or punished by reason of lapse of time.\n\n2\\. Extradition may be refused in any of the following circumstances if:\n\n(a) the person whose extradition is requested is a national of the Requested State. Where the Requested State refuses to extradite a national of that State it shall, if the Requesting State so requests and the law of the Requested State allows, submit the case to the competent authorities in order that proceedings for the prosecution of the person in respect of all or any of the offences for which extradition has been requested may be taken: or\n\n(b) the offence for which extradition is requested is subject to the jurisdiction of the Requested State and that State will prosecute that offence.\n\n  \nSCHEDULE—continued\n\n3\\. The Requested State may recommend to the Requesting State that a request for extradition be withdrawn, specifying the reasons therefore, where it considers, taking into account the age, health or other personal circumstances of the person sought, that extradition should not be requested.\n\nARTICLE 4\n\nThe Request and Supporting Documents\n\n1\\. A request for extradition shall be made in writing and shall be communicated through the diplomatic channel. All documents submitted in support of a request for extradition shall be authenticated in accordance with Article 5.\n\n2\\. The request for extradition shall be accompanied:\n\n(a) if a person is accused of an offence—by a warrant for the arrest or a copy of the warrant for the arrest of the person, a statement of each offence for which extradition is requested and a description of the acts or omissions which are alleged against the person in respect of each offence;\n\n(b) if a person has been convicted in that person’s absence of an offence—by a judicial or other document, or a copy thereof, authorising the apprehension of the person, a statement of each offence for which extradition is requested and a description of the acts or omissions which are alleged against the person in respect of each offence;\n\n(c) if the person has been convicted of an offence otherwise than in that person’s absence—by a statement of each offence for which extradition is requested and a description of the acts or omissions which are alleged against the person in respect of each offence, and by documents evidencing the conviction and penalty imposed, the fact that the sentence is immediately enforceable, and the extent to which the penalty has not been carried out;\n\n(d) if the person has been convicted of an offence otherwise than in that person’s absence but no penalty has been imposed—by a statement of each offence for which extradition is requested and a description of the acts or omissions which are alleged against the person in respect of each offence, and by documents evidencing the conviction and a statement affirming that it is intended to impose a penalty;\n\n(e) in all cases—by a statement of the relevant law creating the offence, including any provision relating to the limitation of proceedings and a statement of the penalty that can be imposed for the offence; and\n\n(f) in all cases—by a description which is as accurate as possible of the person sought together with any other information which may help to establish the person’s identity and nationality.\n\n3\\. Extradition may be granted of a person pursuant to the provisions of this Treaty notwithstanding that the requirements of Paragraphs 1 and 2 of this Article have not been complied with, provided that the person sought consents to being extradited.\n\n4\\. All documents submitted by Switzerland in support of the request for extradition shall be in, or shall be translated into English. All documents submitted by Australia in support of the request for extradition shall be in or shall be translated into an official language of Switzerland, to be specified in each case by the competent authority of Switzerland.\n\nARTICLE 5\n\nAuthentication of Supporting Documents\n\n1\\. A document that, in accordance with Article 4, accompanies a request for extradition shall be admitted, if authenticated, in any extradition proceedings in the Requested State.\n\n  \nSCHEDULE—continued\n\n2\\. A document is authenticated for the purposes of this Treaty if:\n\n(a) it purports to be signed or certified by a Judge. Magistrate or officer in or of the Requesting State: and\n\n(b) it purports to be sealed with an official seal of the Requesting State or of a Minister of State, or of a Department of the Requesting State.\n\nARTICLE 6\n\nAdditional Information\n\n1\\. If the Requested State considers that the documentation furnished in support of the request is not sufficient in accordance with this Treaty to enable the extradition to be granted, that State may request that additional information be furnished within such time as it specifies.\n\n2\\. If the person whose extradition is requested is under arrest in relation to extradition and the additional information furnished is not sufficient in accordance with this Treaty or is not received within the time specified, the person may be released from custody. Such release shall not prejudice re-arrest and extradition if a request for extradition is received subsequently.\n\n3\\. Where the person is released from custody in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article, the Requested State shall notify the Requesting State as soon as possible.\n\nARTICLE 7\n\nConflicting Requests\n\nIf extradition is requested concurrently by more than one State, either for the same offence or for different offences, the Requested State shall make its decision having regard to all the circumstances and especially the relative seriousness and place of commission of the offences, the nationality of the person sought, the possibility of subsequent extradition to another State and the respective dates of the requests. Where appropriate the Requested State shall inform the Requesting State whether it consents to re-extradition.\n\nARTICLE 8\n\nRule of Speciality\n\n1\\. Subject to paragraph 3 of this Article, a person extradited under this Treaty shall not be detained or tried, or be subject to any other restriction of personal liberty, in the Requesting State for any offence committed before the surrender other than:\n\n(a) an offence for which extradition was granted: or\n\n(b) any other extraditable offence in respect of which the Requested State consents.\n\n2\\. A request for the consent of the Requested State under this Article shall be accompanied by the documents mentioned in Article 4 as well as a legal record of any statement made by the extradited person in respect of the offence concerned.\n\n3\\. Paragraph 1 of this Article does not apply if the person extradited has had an opportunity to leave the Requesting State and has not done so within 45 days of final discharge in respect of the offence for which that person was extradited or if the person has returned to the Requesting State after having left it.\n\n  \nSCHEDULE—continued\n\nARTICLE 9\n\nRe-Extradition to a Third State\n\n1\\. Where a person has been surrendered to the Requesting State that State shall not extradite the person to any third state for an offence committed before that person’s surrender unless:\n\n(a) the Requested State consents to that extradition; or\n\n(b) the person has had an opportunity to leave the Requesting State and has not done so within 45 days of final discharge in respect of the offence for which that person was surrendered by the Requested State or has returned to the Requesting State after having left it.\n\n2\\. The Requested State may request the production of the documents mentioned in Article 4 in relation to any consent pursuant to sub-paragraph (1) (a) of this Article.\n\nARTICLE 10\n\nProvisional Arrest\n\n1\\. In case of urgency a Contracting Party may apply through the International Criminal Police Organisation (INTERPOL) or otherwise for the provisional arrest of the person sought. The application may be transmitted by post or telegraph or by any other means affording a record in writing.\n\n2\\. The application for provisional arrest shall contain a description of the person sought, a statement of the existence of one of the documents mentioned in paragraph 2 of Article 4 authorising the apprehension of the person, a statement of an offence for which extradition will be requested, a description of the acts or omissions alleged to constitute the offence, a statement of the penalty that can be, or has been, imposed for the offence and a statement that extradition is to be requested through the diplomatic channel.\n\n3\\. A person arrested upon an application for provisional arrest may be released upon the expiration of 40 days from the date of that person’s arrest if a request for extradition has not been received.\n\nARTICLE 11\n\nSurrender\n\n1\\. The Requested State shall, as soon as a decision on the request for extradition has been made, communicate that decision to the Requesting State through the diplomatic channel. Reasons shall be given for any complete or partial rejection of an extradition request.\n\n2\\. Where extradition is granted, the Requested State shall inform the Requesting State of the length of time for which the person claimed was detained with a view to extradition.\n\n3\\. Where extradition is granted, the person shall be taken over by the Requesting State from the Requested State at a point of departure arranged by the Contracting Parties.\n\n4\\. The Requesting State shall take over the person from the Requested State within fifteen days of notification of the decision referred to in paragraph 1 of this Article. If the Requesting State is unable to take over the person within this period the Requested State may extend the period by a further fifteen days upon a request substantiated by the Requesting State.\n\n  \nSCHEDULE—continued\n\nARTICLE 12\n\nPostponed or Temporary Surrender\n\n1\\. The Requested State may postpone the surrender of a person in order to proceed against the person, or so that the person may serve a sentence, for an offence other than an offence constituted by an act or omission for which extradition is requested. In such cases the Requested State shall advise the Requesting State accordingly.\n\n2\\. To the extent permitted by its law, the Requested State may temporarily surrender the person sought to the Requesting State in accordance with conditions to be determined between the Contracting Parties.\n\nARTICLE 13\n\nSurrender of Property\n\n1\\. To the extent permitted under the law of the Requested State and subject to the right of third parties, which shall be duly respected, all property found in the Requested State that has been acquired as a result of the offence or may be required as evidence shall, if the Requesting State so requests, be surrendered if extradition is granted.\n\n2\\. The property mentioned in paragraph 1 of this Article shall, if the Requesting State so requests, be surrendered to the Requesting State even if the extradition, having been consented to, cannot be carried out.\n\n3\\. Where the law of the Requested State or the rights of third parties so require, any property so surrendered shall be returned to the Requested State free of charge if that State so requests.\n\nARTICLE 14\n\nTransit\n\nTransit through the territory of one of the Contracting Parties shall be granted on a request in writing by the other Contracting Party. The request for transit:\n\n(a) may be transmitted by post or telegraph or by any other means affording a record in writing; and\n\n(b) shall contain the information referred to in paragraph 2 of Article 10.\n\nARTICLE 15\n\nRepresentation and Expenses\n\n1\\. The Requested State shall make all necessary arrangements for and meet the cost of any proceedings arising out of a request for extradition and shall otherwise represent the interest of the Requesting State, as well as bear the expenses incurred in its territory in the arrest and detention of the person whose extradition is requested.\n\n2\\. The Requesting State shall bear the expenses incurred in conveying the person from the territory of the Requested State.\n\nARTICLE 16\n\nOther Obligations\n\nThis Treaty shall not affect any obligation which the Contracting Parties may have undertaken or may undertake under any multilateral convention, to which they are both party.\n\n  \n\nSCHEDULE—continued\n\nARTICLE 17\n\nDispute Settlement\n\n1\\. The Contracting Parties shall consult, at the request of either, concerning the interpretation or the application of this Treaty either generally or in relation to a particular case.\n\n2\\. Any dispute between the Contracting Parties concerning the interpretation of this Treaty which has not been settled by consultations under paragraph 1 of this Article may be referred by either Party to the International Court of Justice in conformity with the Statute of the Court.\n\n3\\. Any dispute settlement in accordance with paragraph 2 of this Article shall not affect the validity of any final decision of an executive or judicial authority of a Contracting Party made in connection with a request giving rise to the dispute.\n\nARTICLE 18\n\nAmendment\n\nThe Contracting Parties shall consult at the request of either concerning any proposal to amend this Treaty.\n\nARTICLE 19\n\nEntry into Force and Termination\n\n1\\. This Treaty shall enter into force 180 days after the date on which the Contracting Parties have notified each other in writing that their respective requirements for the entry into force of this Treaty have been complied with.\n\n2\\. On the entry into force of this Treaty the provisions of:\n\n(a) the Treaty for the Mutual Extradition of Fugitive Criminals between the Swiss Confederation and the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Ireland, done at Berne on 26 November 1880;\n\n(b) the Supplementary Convention to the aforesaid Treaty, done at London on 29 June 1904: and\n\n(c) the Supplementary Convention to the aforesaid Treaty, done at Berne on 19 December 1934,\n\nshall cease to have effect, except with respect to extradition proceedings pending at that time, between Australia and Switzerland.\n\n3\\. Either Contracting Party may terminate this Treaty by notice in writing at any time and it shall cease to be in force on the one hundred and eightieth day after the day on which notice is given.\n\nIN WITNESS WHEREOF the undersigned, being duly authorized thereto by their respective Governments, have signed this Treaty.\n\nDONE at SYDNEY on the TWENTY NINTH day of JULY One Thousand nine hundred and eighty-eight, in English and German, both texts being equally authentic.\n\nFOR AUSTRALIA FOR THE SWISS CONFEDERATION\n\nLionel Bowen Jean-Pascal Delamurez\n\nNOTE\n\n1\\. Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 25 June 1990.\n\nPrinted by Authority by the Commonwealth Government Printer","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"Unauthenticated. Configure AI_GATEWAY_API_KEY or use a provider module. Learn more: https://ai-sdk.dev/unauthenticated-ai-gateway","source":"analysis-cron"},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"This instrument implements a bilateral extradition treaty with Switzerland by declaring Switzerland an extradition country and applying the Extradition Act subject to the treaty text. It does not broaden the domestic extradition framework beyond giving effect to the treaty’s procedural rules, exceptions and limits; it therefore does not materially change the scope of the Extradition Act’s purpose but specifies how that purpose is applied in Australia–Switzerland cases (Reg 4–5; Schedule)."},"complexity_factors":["Short instrument: 5 substantive Regulations (citation, commencement, interpretation, declaration, application)","Single defined term in the Regulations themselves (\"the Act\") (Reg 3)","Includes a 19-article bilateral treaty in full (Schedule) with numerous subparagraphs and conditions","Cross-reference to the Extradition Act 1988 (Reg 5) — domestic procedures depend on interplay with that Act","Multiple conditional rules and exceptions (e.g. dual criminality threshold, discretionary extradition of nationals, political/fiscal/military exceptions) (Treaty Arts 2–3)","Procedural and documentary requirements with authentication and translation obligations (Treaty Arts 4–5)","Time limits that trigger different legal consequences (provisional arrest 40 days; surrender transfer 15 + 15 days) (Treaty Arts 10–11)","Speciality and re-extradition rules creating downstream constraints and cross-state consent requirements (Treaty Arts 8–9)","Allocations of costs and operational responsibilities between states (Treaty Art 15)"],"plain_english_summary":"**What this instrument does (mechanically)\n\n- Declares that the Swiss Confederation is an \"extradition country\" for Australia (Regulation 4).\n- Applies the Extradition Act 1988 to extradition between Australia and Switzerland, but subject to the text of the bilateral extradition treaty that is included in the Schedule (Regulation 5 and Schedule).\n- Makes the treaty operative from 1 January 1991 (Commencement, Reg 2) by giving the domestic legal effect to the treaty procedures and limits in the Schedule.\n\nWho is affected\n\n- People wanted for criminal prosecution, for enforcement of sentences, or for detention orders in either Australia or Switzerland (Treaty, Art 1).\n- Australian and Swiss executive and judicial authorities who receive or make extradition requests, and officials who handle arrest, detention, transfer, identification, translation and authentication of documents (Arts 4–6, 10–11).\n- Law enforcement bodies (including INTERPOL channels where used) and the agencies responsible for transporting surrendered persons.\n\nWhy it matters (stated purpose and how that is achieved)\n\n- The instrument gives Australia and Switzerland a clear legal mechanism to transfer criminal suspects and convicted persons between the two countries by:  \n  - setting the basic threshold for extradition (dual criminality and a minimum penalty) (Art 2);  \n  - listing procedural requirements for requests and supporting documents (Art 4); and  \n  - specifying exceptions, limits and safeguards such as political/fiscal/military offence exclusions, death-penalty protections, non-discrimination protections, speciality (limits on re-prosecution) and time-limits for provisional arrest (Arts 3, 8–11).\n\nMechanics that determine behaviour, costs and discretion\n\n- Offence threshold: Extradition is available where the offence is punishable in both states by at least one year’s imprisonment (dual criminality). Lesser offences may be extradited only if the Requested State’s law permits it (Art 2). This channels most routine extradition to more serious offences (Art 2(1)–(2)).\n\n- Documents and authentication: Requests must be in writing through diplomatic channels and accompanied by arrest warrants, descriptions of acts, legal provisions and identity material; documents must be authenticated and translated (Arts 4–5). These documentary requirements create administrative and translation work for requesting authorities and may delay requests if incomplete (Art 6).\n\n- Exceptions and discretion: The treaty forbids extradition for political, fiscal or purely military offences; it bars surrender when the death penalty would apply unless the Requesting State gives assurances; it allows refusal where prosecution is barred by final judgment or time-limits; and it permits the Requested State to refuse to extradite its own nationals (Art 3). These provisions grant both legal protections to individuals and decision-making discretion to authorities.\n\n- Speciality and re-extradition: The person surrendered may not be tried for offences other than those for which extradition was granted, unless the Requested State consents (Art 8). Re-extradition to a third state generally requires the consent of the State that surrendered the person or certain time-based conditions (Art 9). These rules limit downstream prosecution choices by the Requesting State and preserve the Requested State’s legal interests.\n\n- Time limits and custody risk: Provisional arrest may be used in urgent cases but if a full request is not lodged within 40 days the person may be released (Art 10(3); Art 6(2)). Where extradition is granted, the Requesting State ordinarily must take custody within 15 days (Art 11(4)). These timelines create coordination pressures on requesting authorities and potential release risks if paperwork or transport are delayed.\n\n- Costs: The Requested State bears the local costs of arrest, detention and extradition proceedings; the Requesting State bears the cost of conveying the person out of the Requested State (Art 15). This allocates immediate detention burdens to the Requested State and transport costs to the Requesting State.\n\n- Practical frictions and compliance burdens: The instrument imposes documentary, translation and authentication duties (Arts 4–5, 4(4)). The treaty allows the Requested State to ask for additional information and, failing receipt, to release a detained person (Art 6). Those clauses create risks that delays or incomplete requests will cause release or rework.\n\nTrade-offs, incentives and implementation risks (brief)\n\n- Benefit concentration: Law enforcement agencies and prosecutors gain a formal channel to seek suspects across borders (Art 1); the direct operational benefit is concentrated on requesting authorities.\n- Diffuse costs: Administrative, translation and detention burdens fall on both states’ governments; detained persons face the strongest direct costs and legal risks (Arts 4–6, 10–11).\n- Discretion and potential substitution: The Requested State’s ability to refuse extradition of its nationals and to require assurances (Art 3(2)(a), Art 3(1)(b)) could cause requesting States to pursue local prosecution or other remedies instead of extradition, with substitution effects on cross-border law enforcement.\n- Implementation risk: The treaty’s reliance on diplomatic channels, translations and authentication increases the chance of procedural rejection or delay (Arts 4–5, 6).\n\nKey textual hooks (where these things appear)\n\n- Declaration of extradition country: Reg 4.  \n- Application of the Extradition Act subject to the bilateral treaty: Reg 5 and Schedule.  \n- Offence threshold and scope (dual criminality): Treaty, Article 2.  \n- Exceptions (political/fiscal/military, death penalty, discrimination, final judgment, statutes of limitation): Treaty, Article 3.  \n- Documentary, translation and authentication requirements: Treaty, Articles 4–5.  \n- Provisional arrest time-limit and surrender timeframes: Treaty, Articles 10–11.  \n- Speciality and re-extradition limits: Treaty, Articles 8–9.  \n- Costs allocation: Treaty, Article 15.\n\nSummary sentence\n\nThis regulation gives domestic legal effect to a bilateral extradition treaty with Switzerland: it designates Switzerland as an extradition partner, subjects extradition between the two States to the Extradition Act as modified by the treaty text, and sets out the offences, procedural requirements, exceptions, timelines and cost allocations that control how Australia and Switzerland will request, decide on, and carry out extraditions (Regs 4–5; Schedule)."},"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":4,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation remains tightly scoped to its original purpose of implementing the 1988 Australia-Switzerland Extradition Treaty. The regulations do not expand beyond establishing the treaty-based extradition framework."},"complexity_factors":["The regulations themselves are extremely short (5 sections) but incorporate a full international treaty by reference (19 articles)","The treaty contains multiple conditional exceptions with nested logic (e.g., Article 3 has mandatory refusal grounds vs discretionary refusal grounds)","Cross-referencing between articles is frequent (e.g., Article 8 references Article 4, Article 9 references Article 4 and Article 8)","Temporal complexity in Article 2 regarding when offences were committed and what law applies","Dual criminality requirement with flexible interpretation rules (Article 2(3)) that require comparative law analysis","Procedural requirements with multiple document types depending on conviction status (Article 4(2))","Time-bound procedural steps (40 days for provisional arrest, 15+15 days for surrender) creating conditional deadlines"],"plain_english_summary":"This legislation creates a formal system for Australia and Switzerland to hand over suspected or convicted criminals to each other. \n\n**What it does:**\n- Declares Switzerland an \"extradition country\" under Australian law, meaning Australia can extradite people to (and request extradition from) Switzerland\n- Incorporates a detailed treaty signed in 1988 that sets out the rules for how this works\n\n**Key rules in the treaty:**\n- **What crimes qualify:** Generally crimes punishable by at least one year in prison in both countries (the \"dual criminality\" principle)\n- **When extradition can be refused:** For political or military offences, if the person faces the death penalty (unless the requesting country promises not to use it), if there's evidence of racial or political persecution, or if the person has already been tried or the crime is too old\n- **Nationality exception:** Switzerland or Australia can refuse to extradite their own citizens, but must prosecute them locally instead if the other country asks\n- **Speciality rule:** Someone extradited can only be tried for the specific crime they were sent over for (unless the other country agrees otherwise or the person stays put after serving their sentence)\n- **Process:** Requests go through diplomatic channels, need specific documents like arrest warrants, and can include urgent provisional arrests through Interpol\n\n**Who it affects:**\n- People accused or convicted of serious crimes who flee between Australia and Switzerland\n- Law enforcement and judicial authorities in both countries\n- Anyone whose property is connected to an extraditable offence (assets can be seized and transferred)\n\n**Why it matters:**\nThis replaces outdated 19th and early 20th century treaties between Switzerland and the UK that previously applied to Australia. It modernises the process, adds human rights protections (like the death penalty and political persecution safeguards), and creates a clearer framework for police and courts to follow."}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations","history":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations/history","analysis":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/extradition-swiss-confederation-regulations/documents"}}