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[2020] FCA 25
Federal Court of Australia
2020-01-22
Croucher J, Anastassiou J
Original judgment source is linked above.
ANASTASSIOU J: 1 The applicant applies for an interim control order pursuant to section 104.4 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth). The applicant is a member of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) holding the rank of Acting Assistant Commissioner. The terms of the interim control order the applicant seeks impose numerous restrictions upon the respondent's personal freedom in a variety of ways, including the freedom to travel both within and outside Australia and the freedom to access various means of communication. The respondent is currently incarcerated but is due to be released imminently. 2 The respondent opposes the making of any control order on the grounds that the Court does not have power in the circumstances to make an order. Alternatively, he submits that several of the proposed controls are not reasonably necessary, and reasonably appropriate and adapted.
background 3 In February 2019 the respondent pleaded guilty to one count of preparation for incursion into a foreign country for the purpose of engaging in hostile activities, contrary to sections 11.2A and 119.4(1) of the Criminal Code. The respondent committed this offence jointly with five others. Each of the respondent's co-offenders pleaded guilty. The respondent and his co-offenders were sentenced by Justice Croucher in the Supreme Court of Victoria over a number of days on 22 and 26 February and 3 May 2019. On 22 February 2019, Justice Croucher sentenced the respondent to three years and eight months' imprisonment, with a non-parole period of two years and nine months. On 2 September 2019 the Attorney-General provided notice that the respondent's application for parole had been refused. The respondent's sentence expires tomorrow, 23 January 2020. 4 The sentencing remarks of Croucher J provide a detailed narrative of the events and conduct of the respondent and his co-offenders: R v Cerantonio & Ors [2019] VSC 284. In summary, the Crown's case was that between 22 October 2015 and 10 May 2016, the respondent and his co-offenders joined in an agreement to engage in conduct in Australia, and did engage in such conduct, preparatory to one or more of them entering the Philippines with intent to encourage or join with others there in conduct aimed at overthrowing the government of the Southern Philippines by force or violence. The Crown alleged that the motivation for the agreement between the respondent and his co-offenders was to enable the Southern Philippines ultimately to be governed by Islamic law, otherwise known as "Sharia law". The hostile activity that the respondent and his co-offenders intended was that one of them, Mr Cerantonio, would enter the Philippines to encourage persons of the Islamic faith to carry out actions directed at achieving the overthrow by force or violence of the government of the Southern Philippines. 5 By 22 October 2015, neither the respondent or any of his co-offenders were able to gain entry to a foreign country or to assist Mr Cerantonio to do so. At different times during 2015 and 2016, a number of the co-offenders, including the respondent, had sought to leave Australia but were refused departure by the authorities. Eventually, all six of the co-offenders had their Australian passports cancelled. In that context, they agreed to acquire a boat and other necessary equipment to leave Australia in a covert manner to facilitate ultimate entry to the Philippines. An element of their agreement was that only Mr Cerantonio was to be involved in actually encouraging others to attempt to overthrow the government of the Southern Philippines by force or violence. There was no formed plan by Mr Cerantonio as to how the encouragement of others in the Philippines was to occur. The means by which he was to encourage others, and who those others might be, were unknown. 6 In the course of his sentencing remarks, Croucher J observed at [91]: First, as I have just intimated, the whole venture was poorly planned and, I fear, foredoomed to failure. Given the ill-suited vessel the group had purchased and their lack of serious boating experience, it is hard to imagine that they would have made it very far past the breakers off the far north of Queensland.
Relevant Statutory Provisions 7 The statutory provisions (or part thereof) relevant to the present application are set out below: Criminal Code 104.4 Making an interim control order (1) The issuing court may make an order under this section in relation to the person, but only if: (a) the senior AFP member has requested it in accordance with section 104.3; and (b) the court has received and considered such further information (if any) as the court requires; and (c) the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities: (i) that making the order would substantially assist in preventing a terrorist act; or (ii) that the person has provided training to, received training from or participated in training with a listed terrorist organisation; or (iii) that the person has engaged in a hostile activity in a foreign country; or (iv) that the person has been convicted in Australia of an offence relating to terrorism, a terrorist organisation (within the meaning of subsection 102.1(1)) or a terrorist act (within the meaning of section 100.1); or (v) that the person has been convicted in a foreign country of an offence that is constituted by conduct that, if engaged in in Australia, would constitute a terrorism offence (within the meaning of subsection 3(1) of the Crimes Act 1914 ); or (vi) that making the order would substantially assist in preventing the provision of support for or the facilitation of a terrorist act; or (vii) that the person has provided support for or otherwise facilitated the engagement in a hostile activity in a foreign country; and (d) the court is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that each of the obligations, prohibitions and restrictions to be imposed on the person by the order is reasonably necessary, and reasonably appropriate and adapted, for the purpose of: (i) protecting the public from a terrorist act; or (ii) preventing the provision of support for or the facilitation of a terrorist act; or (iii) preventing the provision of support for or the facilitation of the engagement in a hostile activity in a foreign country. … 119.1 Offence for engaging in a hostile activity in a foreign country (2) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person engages in a hostile activity in a foreign country; and (b) when the person engages in the activity, the person: (i) is an Australian citizen; or (ii) is a resident of Australia; or (iii) is a holder under the Migration Act 1958 of a visa; or (iv) has voluntarily put himself or herself under the protection of Australia. Penalty: Imprisonment for life. … 119.4 Preparations for incursions into foreign countries for purpose of engaging in hostile activities Preparatory acts (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person engages in conduct (whether within or outside Australia); and (b) the conduct is preparatory to the commission of an offence against section 119.1 (whether by that or any other person); and (c) when the person engages in the conduct, the person: (i) is an Australian citizen; or (ii) is a resident of Australia; or (iii) is a holder under the Migration Act 1958 of a visa; or (iv) has voluntarily put himself or herself under the protection of Australia; or (v) is a body corporate incorporated by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory. Penalty: Imprisonment for life. … 117.1 Definitions "engage in a hostile activity" : a person engages in a hostile activity in a foreign country if the person engages in conduct in that country with the intention of achieving one or more of the following objectives (whether or not such an objective is achieved): (a) the overthrow by force or violence of the government of that or any other foreign country (or of a part of that or any other foreign country); (b) the engagement, by that or any other person, in action that: (i) falls within subsection 100.1(2) but does not fall within subsection 100.1(3); and (ii) if engaged in in Australia, would constitute a serious offence; (c) intimidating the public or a section of the public of that or any other foreign country; (d) causing the death of, or bodily injury to, a person who is the head of state of that or any other foreign country, or holds, or performs any of the duties of, a public office of that or any other foreign country (or of a part of that or any other foreign country); (e) unlawfully destroying or damaging any real or personal property belonging to the government of that or any other foreign country (or of a part of that or any other foreign country). Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) 3 Interpretation (1) In this Act, unless the contrary intention appears: terrorism offence means: (a) an offence against Subdivision A of Division 72 of the Criminal Code; or (aa) an offence against Subdivision B of Division 80 of the Criminal Code; or (b) an offence against Part 5.3 or 5.5 of the Criminal Code; or (c) an offence against either of the following provisions of the Charter of the United Nations Act 1945: (i) Part 4 of that Act; (ii) Part 5 of that Act, to the extent that it relates to the Charter of the United Nations (Sanctions - Al‑Qaida) Regulations 2008.
Preconditions for making an interim control order 8 There are four preconditions which must be satisfied before an interim control order can be made pursuant to ss 104.4(1) of the Criminal Code. The first condition in ss 104.4(1)(a) requires that a senior AFP member has requested the interim control order in accordance with s 104.3 of the Criminal Code. This precondition is plainly satisfied as it is clear on the evidence that Ms Booth is a senior AFP member as defined in the Code and she has requested an interim control order in accordance with s 104.3. Ms Booth's affidavit in support of the application has established that each of the requirements in s 104.3 has been satisfied. 9 The second precondition is that the Court has received and considered such further information (if any) as the Court requires. That precondition was not applicable to this application as the Court did not require any further information. 10 The third precondition is the subject of the respondent's opposition to the making of an interim control order. The applicant relies upon two elements of this third condition, namely ss 104.4(c)(iv) on the ground that the respondent has been convicted in Australia of an offence relating to terrorism within the meaning of that sub-section. Further or alternatively, the applicant relies upon ss 104.4(c)(vii) contending that the respondent is a person who has provided support for or otherwise facilitated the engagement in a hostile activity in a foreign country. 11 The respondent contends that the offence for which he pleaded guilty and was convicted was not an offence relating to terrorism within the meaning of ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) of the Criminal Code and nor does the conviction constitute sufficient evidence that the respondent provided support for or otherwise facilitated the engagement in a hostile activity in a foreign country within the meaning of ss 104.4(1)(c)(vii).
Section 104.4(1)(c)(iv) - an "offence relating to terrorism" 12 The respondent contended that the offence for which he was convicted, namely for conduct preparatory to the commission of an offence against s 119.1 of the Criminal Code in contravention of s 119.4 of the Criminal Code is not per se an offence relating to terrorism. It was submitted on behalf of the respondent that in the absence of a definition of the expression "an offence relating to terrorism" it is necessary to consider the respondent's conduct underlying his conviction. In support of this argument, the respondent contrasted the terms of ss 104.4(1)(c)(v). The latter concerns a conviction in a foreign country of an offence constituted by conduct that, if engaged in in Australia, would constitute a terrorism offence within the meaning of ss 3(1) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth). I do not accept these contentions. 13 It was common ground that there is no internationally accepted definition of what would constitute terrorism or a terrorism offence. Sub-section 104.4(1)(c)(v) is concerned with conduct outside Australia, and with a conviction in a foreign country arising from conduct in that place. Given these predicates, it is not surprising that ss 104.4(1)(c)(v) should be harnessed to an explicit definition of a terrorism offence which is to be found in ss 3(1) of the Crimes Act. 14 Sub-section 104.4(1)(c)(iv) on the other hand concerns a conviction within Australia arising from conduct whether within or outside Australia. The predicate of ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) is therefore materially different as it concerns a conviction in Australia for a contravention of an offence under Australian law. 15 The respondent submitted that as there is no definition of an offence relating to terrorism in ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) and in contrast to ss 104.4(1)(c)(v) there is no incorporation by reference to the definition of terrorism offence in ss 3(1) of the Crimes Act, a conviction pursuant to a contravention of s 119.4 (which falls within Part 5.5 of the Criminal Code and is therefore a terrorism offence as defined in ss 3(1)(b) of the Crimes Act) is not sufficient to satisfy the condition in ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv). In contrast, if the person had been convicted in a foreign court for conduct that, if engaged in in Australia would constitute a contravention of s 119.4, on the respondent's construction that would be sufficient of itself to constitute an "offence relating to terrorism" because ss 104.4(1)(c)(v) incorporates the definition of terrorism offence in the Crimes Act and that definition in turn incorporates Part 5.3 of the Criminal Code. 16 In my opinion it would be anomalous to construe s 104.1 of the Criminal Code as requiring in the case of a conviction in Australia for a contravention of s 119.4 of the Criminal Code anything more than proof of the conviction, whereas in the case of a conviction in a foreign court, that conviction is sufficient provided the conduct, had it occurred in Australia, would constitute an offence against Part 5.3 or Part 5.5 of the Criminal Code. I do not accept the submission that the absence of explicit reference to the definition of a terrorism offence in ss 3(1) of the Crimes Act in ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) of the Criminal Code implicitly conveys that something more than proof of the conviction is necessary or required. In my view, the question is whether the offence for which the person was convicted may properly be characterised as an offence relating to terrorism. 17 The language of ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) is broad. It is unnecessary to attempt any expression of the outer limits or delineation of what is meant by an offence relating to terrorism. However, it is conceivable that many and varied offences against a person or property that are ubiquitous and not uniquely connected to any terrorist objective may fall within the scope of ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) of the Criminal Code if the offence is committed with a terrorist objective or intention. The offence of murder is an example of an offence which may be related to terrorism within the meaning of ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) if committed with a terrorist objective. Needless to say, murders are committed in a myriad of circumstances unconnected to any terrorist objective. 18 The offence in respect of which the respondent pleaded guilty and was convicted was demonstrably an offence relating to terrorism. The offence involved conduct in Australia that was preparatory to the commission of an offence against s 119.1 of the Criminal Code, namely entering a foreign country with the intention of engaging in a hostile activity. The hostile activity involved an intention or objective of overthrowing by force or violence the government of the Southern Philippines. In my opinion, if the offence for which the person has been convicted is, as here, an offence which by definition involves hostile activity of the kind in which the respondent was engaged and which falls within the definition in s 117.1 of the Criminal Code, it is properly characterised as an offence relating to terrorism. In such circumstances, it is both unnecessary and undesirable to in effect go behind the conviction and consider the conduct underlying the conviction for the purpose of characterising the offence as one related to terrorism, or not. The position may be different if the offence in question was of a more generic kind such as murder. 19 Both parties referred to McCartney v EB (2019) 263 FCR 170 in which Wigney J discussed the preconditions to the exercise of the power under ss 104.4(1) and in particular the expression an offence "relating to terrorism". I respectfully agree with the analysis of Wigney J at [24] to [35]. His Honour further observed (at [36]) that even if it be accepted that some of the actions of the defendant that fall within the defined meaning of engage in a hostile activity for the purposes of ss 119.4(5) might not constitute what would generally be considered to be terrorism or acts of terrorism, the agreed facts upon which the offender was sentenced and the findings of the sentencing judge assisted in drawing an inference that the offender in that case intended to or engaged in acts which would constitute terrorism. His Honour observed that the facts in that case clearly showed that the offence which had been committed related to terrorism. Although His Honour referred to the underlying facts and conduct which supported the conviction, it was on the basis that reference to those facts further supported the characterisation of the offence as one relating to terrorism, and not on the basis that it was necessary to have regard to such underlying facts in order to reach a conclusion that the offence was properly characterised as one "relating to terrorism". 20 For the above reasons the third precondition in ss 104.4(1)(c)(iv) is satisfied.
Section 104.4(1)(c)(vii) - support for hostile activity … in a foreign country 21 The further and alternative element in ss 104.4(1)(c)(vii) in my opinion is an unassailable basis upon which this condition is satisfied. The offence in s 119.4 of the Criminal Code involves conduct preparatory to the commission of the hostile activity whether by that person or not. The agreement to which the respondent was a party was that another person, Mr Cerantonio, would engage in the hostile activity in the Philippines, namely to encourage others to attempt to overthrow the government of the Southern Philippines by force or violence. As Croucher J observed in his sentencing remarks referred to earlier, the agreement as to how the encouragement of others was to occur, and who those others might be, were unknown, and accordingly the ultimate aim of the plan was only remote. The fact that the agreement was not fully formed in relation to how it was to be implemented does not detract from the fact that the essence of the respondent's conviction was engaging in conduct in Australia in preparation for a commission of an offence contrary to s 119.1 to be implemented in a direct sense by Mr Cerantonio in the Philippines. That the agreement contemplated a number of steps by others in the Philippines, commencing with Mr Cerantonio's encouragement of unspecified persons to overthrow the government of the Southern Philippines, does not render the respondent's conduct any less capable of being properly characterised as meeting the description of s 104.4(1)(c)(vii) of the Criminal Code. For these reasons, in my opinion this sub-section provides a further and alternative basis for satisfying the third precondition. 22 The fourth precondition for the making of an interim control order is contained in ss 104.4(1)(d). Sub-sections 104.4(2) and (2A) of the Code contain relevant matters that the Court must have regard to in determining whether the obligations imposed on the person the subject of the order is reasonably necessary, reasonably appropriate and adapted to the relevant purposes. In McCartney v EB, Wigney J at [47] and [48] conveniently extracted the statements by Gleeson CJ in Thomas v Mowbray (2007) 233 CLR 307 at [19] and by Gummow and Crennan JJ at [99] concerning the task of the court when considering this precondition. Gleeson CJ summarised the requirement as involving an evaluation of the proportionality of the control order and Gummow and Crennan JJ characterised the task of assessing what is "reasonably necessary" and what is "reasonably appropriate and adapted" for the purpose of protecting the public from a terrorist act as involving a "balancing exercise" between the attainment of that protection and the impact upon the circumstances of the person in question. 23 As I have noted above, the respondent's sentence expires on 23 January 2020. The originating application was filed on 19 December 2019 and was listed for mention before me on 20 December 2019, at which time I fixed the application for hearing on 20 January 2020. At the mention I urged the parties to engage in discussions with the view to narrowing the ambit of any dispute concerning the terms of the proposed interim control order. 24 At the hearing of the application on 20 January 2020, most of the time was occupied with submissions concerning the question of the Court's power to make a control order referred to above. I again encouraged the parties to continue any discussions concerning the terms of the interim control order. These discussions have led to a resolution so far as the parties are concerned as to the terms of the interim control order, save in relation to two controls which remain in dispute between the parties. Before turning to these disputed controls, I note that notwithstanding the agreement between the parties as to the balance, the Court must be satisfied that the controls are reasonably necessary, reasonably appropriate and adapted as required by s 104.4(1)(d). I am satisfied that each of the controls which are not disputed for the purpose of making an interim control order are proportionate based upon all of the circumstances set out in the evidence before me and in particular in paragraphs 33 to 52 of the applicant's affidavit sworn on 19 December 2019. 25 I turn now to the two disputed controls. 26 The two disputed controls are: (1) Control 1, pursuant to which the applicant seeks to impose a curfew requiring the respondent to remain at his premises between 10 pm and 6 am; and (2) Control 2, pursuant to which the applicant seeks an order requiring the respondent to report to a specified police station twice weekly on every Monday and Thursday between 11 am and 7 pm. 27 As explained by the applicant in paragraph 27 of her affidavit, while the individual controls are separate they are also complimentary to one or more other controls. The aim of the curfew and reporting obligations is to assist police to monitor the respondent and ensure compliance with other controls, such as those prohibiting the respondent from attending certain exclusion zones near airports, and control 4, which prohibits the respondent from leaving Australia. 28 In relation to the curfew, the respondent contends that there is no greater risk of him engaging in behaviour contrary to the objective of protecting the public from terrorist activities between the hours of 10 pm and 6 am and he challenges the utility of the curfew as a monitoring tool. For the purpose of making an interim control order I am not persuaded by the respondent's contentions as to the inutility of a curfew nor that a curfew is disproportionate or inappropriately adapted. In my view, there is considerable force in the proposition that the controls should be considered as a suite of controls which, working together, assist in attaining the objective of protection of the community through effective monitoring and supervision of the respondent. In the alternative, the respondent submitted that if any curfew were to be imposed it should be for the hours between 12 am and 6 am. There is necessarily a degree of arbitrariness in setting curfew hours. It is also self-evident that imposing a curfew upon the liberty of an individual is an intrusive constraint upon that person's freedom. Doing the best I can to balance the competing interests, I consider that the curfew between the hours of 12am and 6am more fairly strikes that balance and thus better adapts the control to the circumstances of this application. It remains open for the applicant and respondent to seek to vary this and other controls at the confirmation hearing to be fixed in several months' time. 29 In relation to the reporting requirement, in my opinion it is both reasonable and proportionate, particularly in the early period post release, that the applicant report twice per week to the nominated police station. In my opinion, this is not unduly inconvenient or intrusive upon the respondent's personal freedom. I also note that the respondent has not suggested that the specified police station is inconveniently located to his residence.
disposition 30 Subject to amending the curfew hours, I shall make orders in the terms proposed by the applicant and fix 3 June 2020 for the confirmation hearing. I certify that the preceding thirty (30) numbered paragraphs are a true copy of the Reasons for Judgment herein of the Honourable Justice Anastassiou.
Associate: Dated: 22 January 2020 SCHEDULE - INTERIM CONTROL ORDER
Annexure B - Summary of grounds on which interim control order made Overview
Booth
Kaya
[2019] VSC 284
(2019) 263 FCR 170
(2007) 233 CLR 307