Northern Territory act

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

In ForceNT

Jurisdiction

Northern Territory

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act

Plain English Summary

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This Act authorises the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) to run intelligence operations and investigations in the Northern Territory into "serious and organised crime" and gives the ACC coercive tools—summonses, notices to produce, private examinations, search warrants, limited arrest and passport orders. Governance rules assign the Board the power to designate "special" operations, the CEO to manage them, and judges to authorise warrants. It affects ACC staff, witnesses, persons investigated, Territory agencies and courts and creates secrecy, evidence‑sharing and penalty rules (see ss 5,6,8,19–22,29,34,44).

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What it does

The Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 provides a Territory-specific framework for the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) to operate in the Northern Territory. Mechanically, it (a) confers on the ACC powers to undertake intelligence operations and investigations that relate to offences against Territory law (s 5); (b) prescribes the internal governance and decision rules for the ACC Board and the CEO as they apply to Territory operations (Parts 2, esp. ss 6-15); (c) creates a statutory scheme for compelled evidence-gathering in the Territory through examinations, summonses and notices (Part 3, ss 17-28); (d) authorises search warrants for material connected with special ACC operations/investigations and procedures for urgent telephone warrants (Part 4, ss 29-30); and (e) sets out reporting, secrecy, delegation and transitional arrangements (Parts 5-7, esp. ss 34, 43-44, 45, 52-64).

Key structural features are: the ACC may only exercise the compulsory powers in relation to “special” Territory operations or investigations once the Board has determined the operation or investigation to be special (s 8(1)-(6), (8)). The CEO is responsible for managing and coordinating ACC Territory operations and must nominate the head of any approved operation/investigation in writing (s 6). Examiners (who conduct private, closed examinations) can summon witnesses, require documents and take sworn evidence for the purposes of special ACC operations/investigations (ss 17-20). Search warrants may be issued by an issuing officer (a Judge of the Federal Court, Supreme Court or Federal Circuit Court) where an eligible person has reasonable grounds to suspect connected material will be present and at risk of concealment, loss or destruction (s 29).

The Act also imposes secrecy obligations on the CEO, Board members, ACC staff and examiners (s 44), creates criminal penalties for non-compliance with summonses or notice requirements and for unauthorised disclosure of certain notated summonses or notices (ss 20(4), 22(1), 23(9)), and restricts challenge to Board determinations making an operation/investigation “special” (s 36). Procedurally, it provides an Inter‑Governmental Committee oversight mechanism with time-limited powers to request information or revoke a special determination within 30 days (s 16). Transitional provisions preserve certain National Crime Authority matters (Part 7).

Current sections

Direct links to the current provisions in Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005.

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION (NORTHERN TERRITORY) ACT 2005 As in force at 31 May 2017 Table of provisions Part 1 Preliminary 1 Short title ......................................................................................... 1 2 Commencement .............................................................................. 1 3 Interpretation ................................................................................... 1 4 Act binds Crown .............................................................................. 5 Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 1 Australian Crime Commission 5 Functions of ACC ............................................................................ 5 6 CEO to manage ACC operations/investigations .............................. 5 7 Counsel assisting ACC .................................................................... 6 Division 2 Board of ACC 8 Functions of Board .......................................................................... 6 9 Board meetings ............................................................................... 7 10 Presiding at Board meetings............................................................ 7 11 Quorum at Board meetings.............................................................. 7 12 Voting at Board meetings ................................................................ 8 13 Conduct of Board meetings ............................................................. 8 14 Resolutions outside of Board meetings ........................................... 8 15 Board committees............................................................................ 9 Division 3 Inter-Governmental Committee 16 Functions of Committee ................................................................... 9 Part 3 Examinations 17 Examinations ................................................................................. 11 18 Conduct of examination ................................................................. 11 19 Power to summon witnesses and take evidence ........................... 14 20 Power to obtain documents ........................................................... 15 21 Disclosure of summons or notice may be prohibited ..................... 16 22 Offences of disclosure ................................................................... 17 23 Failure of witnesses to attend and answer questions .................... 19 24 Warrant for arrest of witness.......................................................... 21

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 ii 25 False or misleading evidence ........................................................ 22 26 Protection of witnesses from harm or intimidation ......................... 22 27 Legal protection of examiners, legal practitioners and witnesses ....................................................................................... 23 28 Order for delivery to examiner of passport of witness .................... 23 Part 4 Search warrants 29 Search warrants ............................................................................ 24 30 Application by telephone for search warrants ................................ 27 Part 5 Performance of functions and exercise of powers 31 Consent of Board may be needed before functions can be performed ...................................................................................... 29 32 Functions not affected by Territory laws ........................................ 29 33 Extent to which functions are conferred ......................................... 29 34 Performance of functions ............................................................... 29 35 Functions of federal judicial officers............................................... 30 36 Limitation on challenge to Board determination ............................. 31 37 Cooperation with law enforcement agencies and coordination with overseas authorities ............................................................... 31 38 Incidental powers of ACC .............................................................. 31 Part 6 General 39 Double jeopardy ............................................................................ 32 40 Arrangements for Board to obtain information or intelligence ........ 32 41 Administrative arrangements with Commonwealth ........................ 32 42 Judges to perform functions under ACC Act.................................. 32 43 Providing reports and information .................................................. 32 44 Secrecy.......................................................................................... 35 45 Delegation ..................................................................................... 36 46 Liability for damages...................................................................... 36 47 Obstructing, hindering or disrupting ACC or examiner .................. 36 48 Public meetings and bulletins ........................................................ 37 49 Annual report ................................................................................. 37 50 Things done for multiple purposes................................................. 38 51 Regulations.................................................................................... 38 Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 52 Repeal ........................................................................................... 39 53 Terms used in this Part .................................................................. 39 54 Certain investigations taken to be special investigations ............... 39

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 iii 55 Assembling and giving evidence obtained by NCA ....................... 39 56 Limitation on challenges to validity of references .......................... 39 57 Arrangements to obtain information or intelligence........................ 40 58 Things seized under search warrants ............................................ 40 59 Directions as to publication ............................................................ 40 60 Disclosure of summons or notice................................................... 40 61 Witness protection ......................................................................... 40 62 Administrative arrangements in relation to NCA ............................ 41 63 Secrecy obligations ....................................................................... 41 64 Transitional regulations ................................................................. 41 Schedule Repealed Acts ENDNOTES

NORTHERN TERRITORY OF AUSTRALIA

As in force at 31 May 2017

AUSTRALIAN CRIME COMMISSION (NORTHERN TERRITORY) ACT 2005 An Act to provide for the operation of the Australian Crime Commission in the Northern Territory and for related purposes Part 1 Preliminary 1 Short title This Act may be cited as the Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005. 2 Commencement This Act comes into operation on the date fixed by the Administrator by notice in the Gazette. 3 Interpretation (1) In this Act: ACC Act means the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 of the Commonwealth. ACC operation/investigation means: (a) an ACC Territory intelligence operation; or (b) an ACC Territory investigation. ACC Territory intelligence operation means an intelligence operation that the ACC is undertaking under section 5(a). ACC Territory investigation means an investigation that the ACC is conducting under section 5(b). authority includes a department, agency or body. Commonwealth body or person means: (a) the ACC; (b) the Board;

Part 1 Preliminary Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 2 (c) the Chair of the Board; (d) a member of the Board; (e) the Inter-Governmental Committee; (f) the CEO; (g) a member of the staff of the ACC; (h) an examiner; (i) a Judge of the Federal Court; or (j) a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court. Commonwealth Minister means the Commonwealth Minister administering the ACC Act. confer includes to impose. function has a meaning affected by subsection (4). intelligence operation means the collection, correlation, analysis or dissemination of criminal information and intelligence relating to a relevant criminal activity. issuing officer means: (a) a Judge of the Federal Court; (b) a Judge of the Supreme Court; or (c) a Judge of the Federal Circuit Court. perform includes to exercise. serious and organised crime means an offence: (a) that involves 2 or more offenders and substantial planning and organisation; (b) that involves, or is of a kind that ordinarily involves, the use of sophisticated methods and techniques; (c) that is committed, or is of a kind that is ordinarily committed, in conjunction with other offences of a like kind;

Part 1 Preliminary Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 3 (d) that is an offence of a kind prescribed by the Regulations or an offence that involves any of the following: (i) theft; (ii) fraud; (iii) tax evasion; (iv) money laundering; (v) currency violations; (vi) illegal drug dealings; (vii) illegal gambling; (viii) obtaining financial benefit by vice engaged in by others; (ix) extortion; (x) violence; (xi) bribery or corruption of, or by, an officer of the Commonwealth or an officer of a State or Territory; (xii) perverting the course of justice; (xiii) bankruptcy and company violations; (xiv) harbouring of criminals; (xv) forging of passports; (xvi) firearms; (xvii) armament dealings; (xviii) illegal importation or exportation of fauna into or out of Australia; (xix) cybercrime; (xx) matters of the same general nature as one or more of the matters listed above; or (e) that is punishable by imprisonment for a period of 3 years or more,

Part 1 Preliminary Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 4 but does not include: (f) an offence committed in the course of a genuine dispute as to matters pertaining to the relations of employees and employers by a party to the dispute, unless the offence is committed in connection with, or as part of, a course of activity involving the commission of a serious and organised crime other than an offence so committed; or (g) an offence the time for the commencement of a prosecution for which has expired. special ACC operation/investigation means: (a) an ACC Territory intelligence operation that the Board has determined to be a special operation; or (b) an ACC Territory investigation that the Board has determined to be a special investigation. State or Territory means a State of the Commonwealth, the Northern Territory, the Australian Capital Territory or an external Territory. Territory Minister means the Northern Territory Minister principally responsible for administering the Police Administration Act 1978. the Territory means the Northern Territory of Australia. Note for subsection (1) The Interpretation Act 1978 contains definitions and other provisions that may be relevant to this Act. (2) If this Act uses a term that is used in the ACC Act, the term has the same meaning in this Act as it has in the ACC Act unless the contrary intention appears in this Act. (3) If the head of an ACC operation/investigation suspects that an offence (the incidental offence) that is not a serious and organised crime may be directly or indirectly connected with, or may be a part of, a course of activity involving the commission of a serious and organised crime (whether or not the head has identified the nature of that serious and organised crime), then the incidental offence is, for so long only as the head so suspects, taken, for the purposes of this Act, to be a serious and organised crime. (4) A reference in this Act (other than in Part 2) to a function includes a reference to a power or duty.

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 1 Australian Crime Commission Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 5 4 Act binds Crown This Act binds the Crown in right of the Territory and, to the extent the legislative power of the Legislative Assembly permits, the Crown in all its other capacities. Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter- Government Committee Division 1 Australian Crime Commission 5 Functions of ACC The ACC has the following functions: (a) to undertake an intelligence operation in so far as the serious and organised crime is, or the serious and organised crimes are or include, an offence or offences against a law of the Territory (irrespective of whether that offence or those offences have a federal aspect); (b) to investigate a matter relating to a relevant criminal activity, in so far as the serious and organised crime is, or the serious and organised crimes are or include, an offence or offences against a law of the Territory (irrespective of whether that offence or those offences have a federal aspect); (c) to provide a report to the Board on the outcome of an operation mentioned in paragraph (a) or an investigation mentioned in paragraph (b); (d) the functions conferred on the ACC by other provisions of this Act or any other Act or Commonwealth Act. 6 CEO to manage ACC operations/investigations (1) The CEO is to manage, coordinate and control ACC operations/investigations. (2) As soon as practicable after the Board consents under section 55A(3) of the ACC Act to the ACC undertaking an intelligence operation under section 5(a) or conducting an investigation under section 5(b), the CEO must determine, in writing, the head of the operation or investigation.

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 2 Board of ACC Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 6 (3) Before the CEO determines the head of the operation or investigation, the CEO must consult the Chair of the Board, and the other members of the Board the CEO thinks appropriate, in relation to the determination. (4) Subject to the consultation with the examiners as is appropriate and practicable, the CEO may make arrangements as to the examiner who is to be able to exercise his or her powers under this Act in relation to a special ACC operation/investigation. 7 Counsel assisting ACC The CEO may appoint a legal practitioner to assist the ACC as counsel in relation to ACC operations/investigations generally or in relation to a particular matter or matters. Division 2 Board of ACC 8 Functions of Board (1) The Board has the following functions: (a) to determine, in writing, whether an ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation or whether an ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation; (b) to determine, in writing, the class or classes of persons to participate in an ACC Territory intelligence operation or ACC Territory investigation; (c) to establish task forces; (d) the other functions conferred on the Board by other provisions of this Act. (2) The Board may determine, in writing, that an ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation. (3) Before making a determination under subsection (2), the Board must consider whether methods of collecting the criminal information and intelligence that do not involve the use of powers in this Act have been effective. (4) The Board may determine, in writing, that an ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation. (5) Before making a determination under subsection (4), the Board must consider whether ordinary police methods of investigation into the matters are likely to be effective.

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 2 Board of ACC Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 7 (6) A determination under subsection (2) or (4) must: (a) describe the general nature of the circumstances or allegations constituting the relevant criminal activity to which the operation or investigation relates; (b) state that the serious and organised crime is, or the serious and organised crimes are or include, an offence or offences against a law of the Territory but need not specify the particular offence or offences; and (c) set out the purpose of the operation or investigation. (7) The Chair of the Board must, within the period of 3 days beginning on the day a determination under subsection (2) or (4) is made, give a copy of the determination to the Inter-Governmental Committee. (8) A determination under subsection (2) or (4) has effect immediately after it is made. (9) Sections 9 to 15 (inclusive) have effect in relation to the Board's functions under this Act. 9 Board meetings (1) The Chair of the Board may convene meetings of the Board. (2) The Chair, in exercising his or her power to convene meetings, must ensure that meetings of the Board are scheduled to meet the requirements set out in section 7D of the ACC Act. 10 Presiding at Board meetings A meeting of the Board must be presided over by: (a) if the Chair of the Board is present – the Chair; or (b) otherwise – another eligible Commonwealth Board member who is present and who is nominated, in writing, by the Chair to preside. 11 Quorum at Board meetings At a meeting of the Board a quorum is constituted by 9 Board members (not including the CEO).

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 2 Board of ACC Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 8 12 Voting at Board meetings (1) Subject to this section, a question arising at a meeting of the Board is to be determined by a majority of the votes of Board members present. (2) The person presiding at a meeting has: (a) a deliberative vote; and (b) if necessary, also a casting vote. (3) The CEO is not entitled to vote on any question arising at a meeting of the Board. (4) The Board cannot determine that an ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation, or that an ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation, unless at least 9 Board members (including at least 2 eligible Commonwealth Board members) vote in favour of making the determination. 13 Conduct of Board meetings (1) The Board may regulate proceedings at its meetings as it considers appropriate. (2) The Board must ensure that minutes of its meetings are kept. 14 Resolutions outside of Board meetings (1) This section applies to a resolution: (a) that, without being considered at a meeting of the Board, is referred to all members of the Board; and (b) of which: (i) if subparagraph (ii) does not apply – a majority of those members (not including the CEO); or (ii) if the resolution is that the Board determine that an ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation, or that an ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation – at least 9 Board members (not including the CEO but including at least 2 eligible Commonwealth Board members), indicate by telephone or other mode of communication to the Chair of the Board that they are in favour.

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 3 Inter-Governmental Committee Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 9 (2) The resolution is as valid and effectual as if it had been passed at a meeting of the Board duly convened and held. 15 Board committees (1) The Board may, with the unanimous agreement of all the members of the Board (not including the CEO), establish a committee or committees to assist in carrying out the functions of the Board. (2) The Board may dissolve a committee at any time. (3) The functions of a committee are those determined by the unanimous agreement of all the members of the Board (not including the CEO). (4) However, the Board cannot determine that a committee has the function of determining whether an ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation or whether an ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation. (5) In performing its functions, a committee must comply with any directions given to the committee by the Board. (6) A question arising at a meeting of a committee is to be determined by a majority of the votes of committee members present. (7) However, the CEO is not entitled to vote on any question arising at a meeting of a committee of which he or she is a member. (8) A committee must inform the other members of the Board of its decisions. (9) A committee may regulate proceedings at its meetings as it considers appropriate. (10) A committee must ensure that minutes of its meetings are kept. Division 3 Inter-Governmental Committee 16 Functions of Committee (1) Within the period of 30 days beginning on the day the Committee is given a copy of a determination (a special determination) under section 8(2) or (4), the Committee may by resolution, with the agreement of the member of the Committee representing the Commonwealth and at least 5 other members of the Committee, request the Chair of the Board to give further information to the Committee in relation to the determination.

Part 2 Australian Crime Commission, Board and Inter-Government Committee Division 3 Inter-Governmental Committee Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 10 (2) Subject to subsection (3), the Chair of the Board must comply with the request. (3) If the Chair of the Board considers that disclosure of information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Chair must not give the Committee the information. (4) If the Chair of the Board does not give the Committee information on the ground that the Chair considers that disclosure of the information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Committee may refer the request to the Territory Minister. (5) If the Committee refers the request to the Territory Minister, he or she: (a) must determine in writing whether disclosure of the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies; (b) must provide copies of that determination to the Chair of the Board and the Committee; and (c) must not disclose his or her reasons for determining the question of whether the information could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies in the way stated in the determination. (6) Within the period of 30 days beginning on the day the Committee makes a request under subsection (1) in relation to a special determination, the Committee may by resolution, with the agreement of the member of the Committee representing the Commonwealth and at least 5 other members of the Committee, revoke the determination. (7) The Committee must notify the Chair of the Board and the CEO of the revocation. (8) The revocation takes effect when the CEO is so notified. (9) To avoid doubt, the revoking of the determination does not affect the validity of any act done in connection with the ACC operation/investigation concerned before the CEO is so notified. (10) The Committee does not have a duty to consider whether to exercise the power under subsection (1) or (6) for any special determination, whether the Committee is requested to do so by any person, or in any other circumstances.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 11 Part 3 Examinations 17 Examinations (1) An examiner may conduct an examination for the purposes of a special ACC operation/investigation. (2) For this Part, a reference to an examination is a reference to an examination before an examiner. 18 Conduct of examination (1) An examiner may regulate the conduct of proceedings at an examination as the examiner thinks fit. (2) At the examination: (a) a person giving evidence may be represented by a legal practitioner; and (b) if, by reason of the existence of special circumstances, the examiner consents to a person who is not giving evidence being represented by a legal practitioner – the person may be so represented. (3) The examination must be held in private and the examiner may give directions as to the persons who may be present during the examination or a part of the examination. (4) A direction given by the examiner under subsection (3) does not prevent the presence, when evidence is being taken at the examination, of: (a) a person representing the person giving evidence; or (b) a person representing, in accordance with subsection (2), a person who, by reason of a direction given by the examiner under subsection (3), is entitled to be present. (5) A person (other than a member of the staff of the ACC approved by the examiner) must not be present at an examination unless the person is entitled to be present by reason of a direction given by the examiner under subsection (3) or by reason of subsection (4).

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 12 (6) At the examination the following persons may, so far as the examiner thinks appropriate, examine or cross-examine any witness on any matter that the examiner considers relevant to the ACC operation/investigation: (a) counsel assisting the examiner generally or in relation to the matter to which the ACC operation/investigation relates; (b) any person authorised by the examiner to appear at the examination; (c) any legal practitioner representing a person at the examination in accordance with subsection (2). (7) If a person (other than a member of the staff of the ACC) is present at an examination while another person (the witness) is giving evidence, the examiner must: (a) inform the witness that the person is present; and (b) give the witness an opportunity to comment on the presence of the person. (8) To avoid doubt, a person does not cease to be entitled to be present at an examination or part of an examination if: (a) the examiner fails to comply with subsection (7); or (b) a witness comments adversely on the presence of the person under subsection (7)(b). (9) An examiner may direct that the following must not be published, or must not be published except in the way, and to the persons, that the examiner specifies: (a) any evidence given before the examiner; (b) the contents of any document, or a description of any thing, produced to the examiner; (c) any information that might enable a person who has given evidence before the examiner to be identified; (d) the fact that any person has given or may be about to give evidence at an examination. (10) The examiner must give a direction under subsection (9) if the failure to do so might prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 13 (11) Subject to subsection (12), the CEO may, in writing, vary or revoke a direction under subsection (9). (12) The CEO must not vary or revoke a direction if to do so might prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence. (13) If: (a) a person has been charged with an offence before a federal court or before a court of the Territory; and (b) the court considers that it may be desirable in the interests of justice that particular evidence given before an examiner, being evidence in relation to which the examiner has given a direction under subsection (9), be made available to the person or to a legal practitioner representing the person, the court may give to the examiner or to the CEO a certificate to that effect. (14) If a court gives a certificate to the examiner or the CEO under subsection (13), the examiner or the CEO must make the evidence available to the court. (15) If: (a) the examiner or the CEO makes evidence available to a court under subsection (14); and (b) the court, after examining the evidence, is satisfied that the interests of justice so require, the court may make the evidence available to the person charged with the offence concerned or to a legal practitioner representing the person. (16) A person must not be present at the examination in contravention of subsection (5) or make a publication in contravention of a direction given under subsection (9). Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (17) At the conclusion of the examination, the examiner must give the head of the special ACC operation/investigation: (a) a record of the proceedings of the examination; and

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 14 (b) any documents or other things given to the examiner at, or in connection with, the examination. 19 Power to summon witnesses and take evidence (1) An examiner may summon a person to appear at an examination to give evidence and to produce any documents or other things referred to in the summons. (2) Before issuing a summons under subsection (1), the examiner must: (a) be satisfied that it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so; and (b) record in writing the reasons for the issue of the summons. (3) A summons under subsection (1) must be accompanied by a copy of the determination of the Board that the ACC Territory intelligence operation is a special operation or that the ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation. (4) Subject to subsection (5), a summons under subsection (1) must set out, so far as is reasonably practicable, the general nature of the matters in relation to which the examiner intends to question the person. (5) The summons is not required to set out the matters required by subsection (4) if the examiner is satisfied that, in the particular circumstances of the special ACC operation/investigation to which the examination relates, it would prejudice the effectiveness of the special ACC operation/investigation for the summons to do so. (6) Subsection (4) does not prevent the examiner from questioning the person in relation to any matter that relates to a special ACC operation/investigation. (7) The examiner who is holding an examination may require a person appearing at the examination to produce a document or other thing. (8) An examiner may, at an examination, take evidence on oath and for that purpose: (a) the examiner may require a person appearing at the examination to give evidence to take an oath in a form approved by the examiner; and (b) the examiner, or a person who is an authorised person in relation to the ACC, may administer an oath to a person so appearing at the examination.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 15 (9) In this section, a reference to a person who is an authorised person in relation to the ACC is a reference to a person authorised in writing, or a person included in a class of persons authorised in writing, for this section by the CEO. (10) The powers conferred by this section are not exercisable except for the purposes of a special ACC operation/investigation. 20 Power to obtain documents (1) An examiner may, by notice in writing served on a person, require the person: (a) to attend, at a time and place specified in the notice, before a person specified in the notice, being the examiner or a member of the staff of the ACC; and (b) to produce, at the time and place and to the person specified in the notice, a document or thing that is relevant to a special ACC operation/investigation and is specified in the notice. (2) Before issuing a notice under subsection (1), the examiner must: (a) be satisfied that it is reasonable in all the circumstances to do so; and (b) record in writing the reasons for the issue of the notice. (3) A notice may be issued under this section in relation to a special ACC operation/investigation, whether or not an examination is being held for the purposes of the operation or investigation. (4) A person must not refuse or fail to comply with a notice served on the person under this section. Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years. (5) The provisions of section 23(3) to (8) (inclusive) and (10) apply in relation to a person who is required to produce a document or thing by a notice served on him or her under this section in the same way as they apply in relation to a person who is required to produce a document or thing at an examination. (6) If there is a contravention of section 23(5) as applied by subsection (5), the provisions of section 23(9) apply to that contravention.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 16 21 Disclosure of summons or notice may be prohibited (1) The examiner issuing a summons under section 19 or a notice under section 20 must, or may, as provided in subsection (2), include in it a notation to the effect that disclosure of information about the summons or notice, or any official matter connected with it, is prohibited except in the circumstances, if any, specified in the notation. (2) A notation must not be included in the summons or notice except as follows: (a) the examiner must include the notation if satisfied that failure to do so would reasonably be expected to prejudice: (i) the safety or reputation of a person; (ii) the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence; or (iii) the effectiveness of an operation or investigation; (b) the examiner may include the notation if satisfied that failure to do so might prejudice: (i) the safety or reputation of a person; (ii) the fair trial of a person who has been, or may be, charged with an offence; or (iii) the effectiveness of an operation or investigation; (c) the examiner may include the notation if satisfied that failure to do so might otherwise be contrary to the public interest. (3) If a notation is included in the summons or notice, it must be accompanied by a written statement setting out the rights and obligations conferred or imposed by section 22 on the person who was served with, or otherwise given, the summons or notice. (4) A notation that is included under this section in any summons or notice relating to the operation or investigation is cancelled by this subsection if, after the ACC has concluded the operation or investigation concerned: (a) no evidence of an offence has been obtained as described in section 34(1);

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 17 (b) evidence of an offence or offences has been assembled and given as required by section 34(1) and the CEO has been advised that no person will be prosecuted; (c) evidence of an offence or offences committed by only one person has been assembled and given as required by section 34(1) and criminal proceedings have begun against that person; or (d) evidence of an offence or offences committed by 2 or more persons has been assembled and given as required by section 34(1) and criminal proceedings have begun: (i) against all those persons; or (ii) against one or more of those persons and the CEO has been advised that no other of those persons will be prosecuted. (5) If a notation is cancelled by subsection (4), the CEO must serve a written notice of that fact on each person who was served with, or otherwise given, the summons or notice containing the notation. (6) In this section: official matter has the same meaning as in section 22. 22 Offences of disclosure (1) A person who is served with, or otherwise given, a summons or notice containing a notation made under section 21 must not disclose: (a) the existence of the summons or notice or any information about it; or (b) the existence of, or any information about, any official matter connected with the summons or notice. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (2) Subsection (1) does not prevent the person from making a disclosure: (a) in accordance with the circumstances, if any, specified in the notation; (b) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation relating to the summons, notice or matter;

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 18 (c) if the person is a body corporate – to an officer or agent of the body corporate for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the summons or notice; or (d) if the person is a legal practitioner – for the purpose of obtaining the agreement of another person under section 23(4) to the legal practitioner answering a question or producing a document at an examination before an examiner. (3) If a disclosure is made to a person as permitted by subsection (2) or (4), the following provisions apply: (a) while he or she is a person of a kind to whom a disclosure is so permitted to be made, he or she must not disclose the existence of, or any information about, the summons or notice, or any official matter connected with it, except as permitted by subsection (4); (b) while he or she is no longer a person of a kind to whom a disclosure is permitted to be made, he or she must not, in any circumstances, make a record of, or disclose the existence of, the summons, notice or matter, or disclose any information about any of them. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (4) A person to whom information has been disclosed, as permitted by subsection (2) or this subsection, may disclose that information: (a) if the person is an officer or agent of a body corporate referred to in subsection (2)(c): (i) to another officer or agent of the body corporate for the purpose of ensuring compliance with the summons or notice; or (ii) to a legal practitioner for the purpose of obtaining legal advice or representation relating to the summons, notice or matter; or (b) if the person is a legal practitioner – for the purpose of giving legal advice, or making representations, relating to the summons, notice or matter. (5) This section ceases to apply to a summons or notice after the sooner of: (a) the cancellation of the notation contained in the summons or notice by section 21(4); or

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 19 (b) the elapse of 5 years after the issue of the summons or notice. (6) A reference in this section to disclosing something's existence includes disclosing information from which a person could reasonably be expected to infer its existence. (7) In this section: official matter means any of the following (whether past, present or contingent): (a) the determination referred to in section 19(3); (b) an ACC operation/investigation; (c) an examination held by an examiner; (d) court proceedings. 23 Failure of witnesses to attend and answer questions (1) A person served, as prescribed, with a summons to appear as a witness at an examination must not: (a) fail to attend as required by the summons; or (b) fail to attend from day-to-day unless excused, or released from further attendance, by the examiner. (2) A person appearing as a witness at an examination must not: (a) when required pursuant to section 19 to take an oath – refuse or fail to comply with the requirement; or (b) refuse or fail to answer a question that he or she is required to answer by the examiner; or (c) refuse or fail to produce a document or thing that he or she was required to produce by a summons under this Act served on him or her as prescribed. (3) Subsection (4) applies if: (a) a legal practitioner is required to answer a question or produce a document at an examination; and (b) the answer to the question would disclose, or the document contains, a privileged communication made by or to the legal practitioner in his or her capacity as a legal practitioner.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 20 (4) The legal practitioner is entitled to refuse to comply with the requirement unless the person to whom or by whom the communication was made agrees to the legal practitioner complying with the requirement. (5) If the legal practitioner refuses to comply with the requirement, he or she must, if so required by the examiner, give the examiner the name and address of the person to whom or by whom the communication was made. (6) Subsection (8) limits the use that can be made of any answers given, or documents or things produced, at an examination. (7) Subsection (8) only applies if: (a) a person appearing as a witness at an examination: (i) answers a question that he or she is required to answer by the examiner; or (ii) produces a document or thing that he or she was required to produce by a summons under this Act served on him or her as prescribed; and (b) for the production of a document that is, or forms part of, a record of an existing or past business – the document sets out details of earnings received by the person in respect of his or her employment and does not set out any other information; and (c) before answering the question or producing the document or thing, the person claims that the answer, or the production of the document or thing, might tend to incriminate the person or make the person liable to a penalty. (8) The answer, or the document or thing, is not admissible in evidence against the person in a criminal proceeding or a proceeding for the imposition of a penalty, other than: (a) confiscation proceedings; or (b) a proceeding in relation to: (i) in the case of an answer – the falsity of the answer; or (ii) in the case of the production of a document – the falsity of any statement contained in the document.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 21 (9) A person who contravenes subsection (1), (2) or (5) is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years. (10) Subsection (4) does not affect the law relating to client legal privilege. 24 Warrant for arrest of witness (1) On application by an examiner, a Judge of the Federal Court sitting in chambers or a Judge of the Supreme Court may issue a warrant for the apprehension of a person if the Judge is satisfied by evidence on oath that there are reasonable grounds to believe: (a) that a person who has been ordered, under section 28, to deliver his or her passport to the examiner, whether or not the person has complied with the order, is nevertheless likely to leave Australia for the purpose of avoiding giving evidence before the examiner; (b) that a person in relation to whom a summons has been issued under section 19(1): (i) has absconded or is likely to abscond; or (ii) is otherwise attempting, or is otherwise likely to attempt, to evade service of the summons; or (c) that a person has committed an offence under section 23(1) or is likely to do so. (2) The warrant may be executed by any person to whom it is addressed and the person executing it has power to break into and enter any premises, vessel, aircraft or vehicle for the purpose of executing it. (3) A member of the Australian Federal Police cannot execute the warrant unless he or she is also a member of the staff of the ACC. (4) The warrant may be executed even if the warrant is not at the time in the possession of the person executing it. (5) A person executing the warrant may only use such reasonable force as is necessary for the execution. (6) If a person is apprehended under the warrant, he or she must be brought, as soon as practicable, before a Judge of the Federal Court or a Judge of the Supreme Court.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 22 (7) The Judge may: (a) admit the person to bail, with such security as the Judge thinks fit, on such conditions as he or she thinks necessary to ensure the appearance of the person as a witness before the examiner; (b) order the continued detention of the person for the purposes of ensuring his or her appearance as such a witness; or (c) order the release of the person. (8) A person under detention under this section must be again brought before a Judge: (a) within 14 days after he or she was brought, or last brought, before a Judge under this section; or (b) within the shorter or longer time fixed by a Judge on the last previous appearance of the person before a Judge under this section. (9) If a person is brought before a Judge under subsection (8), the Judge may exercise any of the powers of a Judge under subsection (7). (10) In this section: Australia includes the external Territories. 25 False or misleading evidence A person must not give evidence at an examination that the person knows is false or misleading in a material particular. Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years. 26 Protection of witnesses from harm or intimidation (1) This section applies if it appears to an examiner that the safety of a person may be prejudiced or the person may be subjected to intimidation or harassment, by reason of the fact that the person: (a) is to appear, is appearing or has appeared at an examination to give evidence or to produce a document or thing; or (b) proposes to give or has given information, or proposes to produce or has produced a document or thing, to the ACC otherwise than at an examination.

Part 3 Examinations Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 23 (2) The examiner may make arrangements (including arrangements with the Territory Minister or with members of the Australian Federal Police or of the Police Force of the Territory) that are necessary to avoid prejudice to the safety of the person, or to protect the person from intimidation or harassment. 27 Legal protection of examiners, legal practitioners and witnesses (1) An examiner has, in the performance of his or her functions or the exercise of his or her powers as an examiner in relation to an examination, the same protection and immunity as a Justice of the High Court. (2) A legal practitioner assisting the ACC or an examiner or representing a person at an examination has the same protection and immunity as a legal practitioners appearing for a party in proceedings in the High Court. (3) Subject to this Act, a person summoned to attend or appearing before an examiner as a witness has the same protection as a witness in proceedings in the High Court. 28 Order for delivery to examiner of passport of witness (1) Subsection (2) applies if, on application by an examiner, a Judge of the Federal Court is satisfied by evidence on oath that: (a) in connection with a special ACC operation/investigation, a summons has been issued under this Act requiring a person to appear before an examiner at an examination (whether or not the summons has been served), or a person has appeared before an examiner at an examination, to give evidence or to produce documents or other things; (b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the person may be able: (i) to give to the examiner evidence or further evidence that is; or (ii) to produce to the examiner documents or other things or further documents or other things that are, relevant to the special ACC operation/investigation and could be of particular significance to the special ACC operation/investigation; and

Part 4 Search warrants Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 24 (c) there are reasonable grounds for suspecting that the person intends to leave Australia and has in his or her possession, custody or control a passport issued to him or her. (2) The Judge may make an order requiring the person to appear before a Judge of the Federal Court on a date, and at a time and place, specified in the order to show cause why he or she should not be ordered to deliver the passport to the examiner. (3) If a person appears before a Judge of the Federal Court under an order made under subsection (2), the Judge may, if he or she thinks fit, make an order: (a) requiring the person to deliver to the examiner any passport issued to him or her that is in his or her possession, custody or control; and (b) authorising the examiner to retain the passport until the expiration of such period, not exceeding one month, as is specified in the order. (4) A Judge of the Federal Court may, on application by the examiner, extend for a further period (not exceeding one month) or further periods (not exceeding one month in each case) the period for which the examiner is authorised to retain a passport under an order made under subsection (3), but so that the total period for which the examiner is authorised to retain the passport does not exceed 3 months. (5) A Judge of the Federal Court may, at any time while the examiner is authorised under an order made under this section to retain a passport issued to a person, on application made by the person, revoke the order and, if the order is revoked, the examiner must forthwith return the passport to the person. (6) In this section: Australia includes the external Territories. Part 4 Search warrants 29 Search warrants (1) An eligible person may apply to an issuing officer for the issue of a warrant under subsection (2) if: (a) the eligible person has reasonable grounds for suspecting that, on a particular day (the relevant day), being the day on which, or a particular day within one month after the day on

Part 4 Search warrants Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 25 which, the application is made, there may be, on any land or on or in any premises, vessel, aircraft or vehicle, a thing or things of a particular kind connected with a special ACC operation/investigation (things of the relevant kind); and (b) the eligible person believes on reasonable grounds that, if a summons were issued for the production of the thing or things, the thing or things might be concealed, lost, mutilated or destroyed. (2) If an application under subsection (1) is made, the issuing officer may issue a warrant authorising a person named in the warrant (the authorised person), with the assistance the authorised person thinks necessary and if necessary by force: (a) to enter upon the land or upon or into the premises, vessel, aircraft or vehicle; (b) to search the land, premises, vessel, aircraft or vehicle for things of the relevant kind; (c) to seize any things of the relevant kind found upon the land or upon or in the premises, vessel, aircraft or vehicle; and (d) to deliver the things seized to any person participating in the special ACC operation/investigation. (3) A member of the Australian Federal Police cannot be an authorised person unless he or she is also a member of the staff of the ACC. (4) An issuing officer must not issue a warrant under subsection (2) unless: (a) the issuing officer has been given: (i) an affidavit setting out the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought; and (ii) if the issuing officer requires further information concerning the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought – that further information, either orally or by affidavit; and (b) the issuing officer is satisfied that there are reasonable grounds for issuing the warrant. (5) If an issuing officer issues a warrant under subsection (2), he or she must state on the affidavit mentioned in subsection (4)(a)(i) which of the grounds specified in that affidavit have been relied on to justify the issue of the warrant and particulars of any other grounds relied

Part 4 Search warrants Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 26 on to justify the issue of the warrant. (6) A warrant issued under this section must: (a) state the purpose for which the warrant is issued, including a reference to the special ACC operation/investigation with which the things of the relevant kind are connected; (b) state whether entry is authorised to be made at any time of the day or night or during specified hours of the day or night; (c) describe the kind of things authorised to be seized; and (d) specify a date, not being later than one month after the date of issue of the warrant, upon which the warrant ceases to have effect. (7) A warrant issued under this section may be executed, subject to its terms, at any time during the period commencing on the relevant day and ending on the date specified in the warrant as the date on which the warrant ceases to have effect. (8) A person executing a warrant issued under this section may only use the reasonable force necessary for the execution. (9) If, in the course of searching, under a warrant issued under this section, for a thing of the relevant kind, the person executing the warrant: (a) finds a thing that he or she believes on reasonable grounds to be evidence that would be admissible in the prosecution of a person for an offence against a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; and (b) believes on reasonable grounds that it is necessary to seize the thing in order to prevent its concealment, loss, mutilation or destruction, or its use in committing an offence, the person may seize the thing and, if he or she does so, the thing is to be taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been seized pursuant to the warrant. (10) The head of the special ACC operation/investigation may retain a thing seized pursuant to a warrant issued under this section if, and for so long as, is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the special ACC operation/investigation to which the thing is relevant. (11) Subject to subsection (12), if the retention of the thing by the head of the special ACC operation/investigation is not, or ceases to be, reasonably necessary for the purposes mentioned in

Part 4 Search warrants Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 27 subsection (10), a person participating in the special ACC operation/investigation must cause the thing to be delivered to: (a) if the thing may be used in evidence in proceedings of a kind referred to in subsection (13) – the authority or person responsible for taking the proceedings; or (b) if subparagraph (i) does not apply – the person who appears to the person participating in the special ACC operation/investigation to be entitled to the possession of the thing. (12) Subsection (11) does not apply if the CEO has given the thing to the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or to a law enforcement agency, or to another person or authority, in accordance with section 34(1)(a), (b) or (c). (13) A person participating in the special ACC operation/investigation may, instead of delivering a thing in accordance with subsection (11)(b), deliver the thing to the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, or to a law enforcement agency, for the purpose of assisting in the investigation of criminal offences, where the person participating in the special ACC operation/investigation is satisfied that the thing is likely to be useful for that purpose. (14) This section does not affect a right of a person to apply for, or the power of a person to issue, a warrant, being a right or power existing otherwise than by virtue of this section. (15) Without limiting the generality of subsection (1)(a), a reference in this section to a thing connected with a special ACC operation/investigation, includes a reference to a thing that may be used in evidence in proceedings for the taking, by or on behalf of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, of civil remedies in respect of a matter connected with, or arising out of, an offence to which the special ACC operation/investigation relates. (16) In this section: thing includes a document. 30 Application by telephone for search warrants (1) If, because of circumstances of urgency, an eligible person considers it necessary to do so, the eligible person may make application by telephone for a warrant under section 29.

Part 4 Search warrants Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 28 (2) Before making the application, the eligible person must prepare an affidavit that sets out the grounds on which the issue of the warrant is being sought, but may, if it is necessary to do so, make the application before the affidavit has been made on oath. (3) If an issuing officer issues a warrant under section 29 upon an application made by telephone, the issuing officer must: (a) complete and sign the warrant; and (b) inform the eligible person who made the application of the terms of the warrant and the date on which and the time at which it was signed; and (c) record on the warrant the reasons for issuing the warrant; and (d) send a copy of the warrant to the CEO. (4) If a warrant is issued under section 29 on an application made by telephone: (a) a member of the staff of the ACC or a member of the Police Force of the Territory may complete a form of warrant in the terms indicated by the issuing officer under subsection (3); and (b) where a form of warrant is so completed – the member must write on it the name of the issuing officer who issued the warrant and the date on which and the time at which it was signed. (5) Where a person completes a form of warrant under subsection (4), the person must, not later than the day next following the date of expiry of the warrant, send to the issuing officer who signed the warrant the form of warrant completed by him or her and the affidavit duly made in connection with the warrant. (6) On receipt of the documents referred to in subsection (5), the issuing officer must attach them to the warrant signed by him or her and deal with the documents in the way in which the affidavit would have been dealt with if the application for the warrant had been made in accordance with section 29. (7) A form of warrant duly completed under subsection (4) is to be taken to be a warrant issued under section 29.

Part 5 Performance of functions and exercise of powers Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 29 Part 5 Performance of functions and exercise of powers 31 Consent of Board may be needed before functions can be performed The conferral of a function on a Commonwealth body or person by this Act is subject to any provision of the ACC Act that requires the consent of the Board before the function can be performed. 32 Functions not affected by Territory laws A Commonwealth body or person is not precluded by any law of the Territory from performing a function conferred by this Act. 33 Extent to which functions are conferred (1) This Act does not purport to confer a duty on a Commonwealth body or person to perform a function if the imposition of the duty would be beyond the legislative power of the Legislative Assembly. (2) This section does not limit the operation of section 35 of this Act or section 59 of the Interpretation Act 1978. 34 Performance of functions (1) If the ACC, in carrying out an ACC operation/investigation, obtains evidence of an offence against a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, being evidence that would be admissible in a prosecution for the offence, the CEO must assemble the evidence and give it to: (a) the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth or of the State or Territory, as the case requires; (b) the relevant law enforcement agency; or (c) any person or authority (other than a law enforcement agency) who is authorised by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of the State or Territory to prosecute the offence. (2) Where the ACC, in carrying out an ACC operation/investigation, obtains evidence that would be admissible in confiscation proceedings, the CEO may assemble the evidence and give it to: (a) the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth or of the State or Territory, as the case requires; (b) a relevant law enforcement agency; or

Part 5 Performance of functions and exercise of powers Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 30 (c) any person or authority (other than a law enforcement authority) who is authorised to commence the confiscation proceedings. (3) If, as a result of the performance of any of the ACC's functions, the Board considers that one of the following recommendations should be made to the Commonwealth Minister or to the appropriate Minister of a participating State, the Board may make the recommendation to the Commonwealth Minister or appropriate Minister: (a) for reform of the law relating to relevant offences, including: (i) evidence and procedure applicable to the trials of relevant offences; (ii) relevant offences in relation to, or involving, corporations; (iii) taxation, banking and financial frauds; (iv) reception by Australian courts of evidence obtained in foreign countries as to relevant offences; and (v) maintenance and preservation of taxation, banking and financial records; (b) for reform of administrative practices; (c) for reform of administration of the courts in relation to trials of relevant offences. (4) If the ACC has obtained particular information or intelligence in the course of performing one or more of its functions, nothing in this Act is to be taken to prevent the ACC from making use of the information or intelligence in the performance of any of its other functions. 35 Functions of federal judicial officers (1) A function conferred on a federal judicial officer by this Act is conferred on the federal judicial officer in a personal capacity and not as a court or a member of a court. (2) The federal judicial officer need not accept the function conferred. (3) Anything done or made by a federal judicial officer under this Act has effect only by virtue of this Act and is not to be taken by implication to be done or made by a court.

Part 5 Performance of functions and exercise of powers Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 31 (4) A federal judicial officer performing a function under this Act has the same protection and immunity as if he or she were performing that function as, or as a member of, a court (being the court of which the federal judicial officer is a member). (5) In this section: federal judicial officer means a Judge of the Federal Court or Federal Circuit Court. 36 Limitation on challenge to Board determination If: (a) an ACC Territory intelligence operation is determined by the Board to be a special operation; or (b) an ACC Territory investigation is determined by the Board to be a special investigation, then, except in a proceeding instituted by the Attorney-General of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, any act or thing done by the ACC because of that determination must not be challenged, reviewed, quashed or called in question in any court of the Territory on the ground that the determination was not lawfully made. 37 Cooperation with law enforcement agencies and coordination with overseas authorities (1) In performing its functions under this Act, the ACC must, so far as is practicable, work in cooperation with law enforcement agencies. (2) In performing its functions under this Act, the ACC may coordinate its activities with the activities of authorities and persons in other countries performing functions similar to functions of the ACC. 38 Incidental powers of ACC The ACC has power to do all things necessary to be done for or in connection with, or reasonably incidental to, the performance of its functions under this Act, and any specific powers conferred on the ACC by this Act are not to be taken to limit by implication the generality of this section.

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 32 Part 6 General 39 Double jeopardy A person is not liable to be punished for an act or omission that is an offence under this Act if: (a) the act or omission is also an offence under the ACC Act; and (b) the person has been punished for the offence under the ACC Act. 40 Arrangements for Board to obtain information or intelligence The Territory Minister may make an arrangement with the Commonwealth Minister for the Board to be given by the Territory, or an authority of the Territory, information or intelligence relating to relevant criminal activities. 41 Administrative arrangements with Commonwealth The Territory Minister may make an arrangement with the Commonwealth Minister under which the Territory will, from time to time as agreed upon under the arrangement, make available a person who is an officer or employee of the Territory or of an authority of the Territory or a member of the Police Force of the Territory, or persons who are such officers, employees or members, to perform services for the ACC. 42 Judges to perform functions under ACC Act A Judge of the Supreme Court may perform functions conferred on the Judge by section 22, 23 or 31 of the ACC Act. 43 Providing reports and information (1) The Chair of the Board must keep the Commonwealth Minister informed of the general conduct of the ACC in the performance of the ACC's functions under this Act. (2) If the Commonwealth Minister requests the Chair of the Board to provide to him or her information concerning a specific matter relating to the ACC's conduct in the performance of its functions under this Act, the Chair must comply with the request. (3) Subject to subsection (4), if the Territory Minister who is a member of the Inter-Governmental Committee requests the Chair of the Board to provide to him or her information concerning a specific matter relating to the ACC's conduct in the performance of its

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 33 functions under this Act, the Chair must comply with the request. (4) If the Chair of the Board considers that disclosure of information to the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies, the Chair must not provide the information under subsection (3). (5) Subject to subsection (7), the Chair of the Board: (a) must, when requested by the Inter-Governmental Committee to give information to the Committee concerning a specific matter relating to an ACC operation/investigation that the ACC has conducted or is conducting, comply with the request; and (b) must, when requested by the Inter-Governmental Committee to do so, and may at such other times as the Chair of the Board thinks appropriate, inform the Committee concerning the general conduct of the ACC in the performance of the ACC's functions under this Act. (6) Subject to subsection (7), the Chair of the Board must give to the Inter-Governmental Committee, for transmission to the Governments represented on the Committee, a report of the findings of any special ACC operation/investigation conducted by the ACC. (7) The Chair of the Board must not give to the Inter-Governmental Committee any matter the disclosure of which to members of the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of persons or the operations of law enforcement agencies. (8) If the findings of the ACC in an investigation include any matter of the nature described in subsection (7), the Chair of the Board must prepare a separate report in relation to the matter and give that report to the Territory Minister. (9) The Chair of the Board may include in a report given under subsection (6) a recommendation that the report be laid before the Legislative Assembly. (10) The CEO may give to a relevant authority any information that has come into the ACC's possession under this Act and that is relevant to the activities of that authority if: (a) it appears to the CEO to be appropriate to do so; and (b) to do so would not be contrary to a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory that would otherwise apply.

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 34 (11) The CEO may, whenever it appears to the CEO to be appropriate to do so, give to authorities and persons responsible for taking civil remedies by or on behalf of the Crown in right of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory any information that has come into the ACC's possession under this Act and that may be relevant for the purposes of so taking such remedies in respect of matters connected with, or arising out of, offences against the laws of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory, as the case may be. (12) Where any information relating to the performance of the functions of an authority of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory or the Administration of an external Territory comes into the ACC's possession under this Act, the CEO may, if he or she considers it desirable to do so: (a) give that information to the authority or Administration; and (b) make any recommendations to the authority or Administration as to the performance of its functions that the CEO considers appropriate. (13) A report under this Act that sets out any finding that an offence has been committed, or makes any recommendation for the institution of a prosecution in respect of an offence, must not be made available to the public unless the finding or recommendation is expressed to be based on evidence that would be admissible in the prosecution of a person for that offence. (14) The CEO may, whenever it appears to the CEO to be appropriate to do so, give to the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation any information that has come into the ACC's possession under this Act and that is relevant to security as defined in section 4 of the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation Act 1979 of the Commonwealth. (15) In this section: relevant authority means: (a) a law enforcement agency; (b) a foreign law enforcement agency; or (c) an authority of the Commonwealth, or of a State or Territory, prescribed under a regulation.

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 35 44 Secrecy (1) This section applies to: (a) the CEO; (b) a member of the Board; (c) a member of the staff of the ACC; and (d) an examiner. (2) A person to whom this section applies must not, either directly or indirectly, except for the purposes of a relevant Act or otherwise in connection with the performance of his or her functions under a relevant Act, and either while he or she is or after he or she ceases to be a person to whom this section applies: (a) make a record of any relevant information; or (b) divulge or communicate to any person any relevant information. Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months. (3) A person to whom this section applies cannot be required to produce in any court a relevant document, or to divulge or communicate to a court a relevant matter or thing, except where the ACC, or the CEO, the acting CEO, a member of the Board or an examiner in his or her official capacity, is a party to the relevant proceeding or it is necessary to do so: (a) for the purpose of carrying into effect the provisions of a relevant Act; or (b) for the purposes of a prosecution instituted as a result of an operation or investigation carried out by the ACC in the performance of its functions. (4) In this section: court includes any tribunal, authority or person having power to require the production of documents or the answering of questions. member of the staff of the ACC means: (a) a person referred to in the definition of member of the staff of the ACC in section 4(1) of the ACC Act; or

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 36 (b) a person who assists, or performs services for or on behalf of, a legal practitioner appointed under section 7 in the performance of the legal practitioner's functions as counsel to the ACC. produce includes permit access to, and production has a corresponding meaning. relevant Act means the ACC Act, this Act or any corresponding Act of a State or Territory. relevant document means a document that has come into a person's custody or control in the course of, or because of, the performance of the person's functions under this Act. relevant information means information acquired by a person because of, or in the course of, the performance of the person's functions under this Act. relevant matter or thing means a matter or thing that has come to a person's notice in the performance of the person's functions under this Act. 45 Delegation The CEO may, by writing, delegate to a member of the staff of the ACC who is an SES employee, or an acting SES employee, all or any of the CEO's functions under this Act. 46 Liability for damages A member of the Board is not liable to an action or other proceeding for damages for, or in relation to, an act done or omitted in good faith in performance or purported performance of any function conferred or expressed to be conferred by or under this Act. 47 Obstructing, hindering or disrupting ACC or examiner A person must not: (a) obstruct or hinder: (i) the ACC in the performance of its functions; or (ii) an examiner in the performance of his or her functions as an examiner; or

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 37 (b) disrupt an examination before an examiner. Maximum penalty: 500 penalty units or imprisonment for 5 years. 48 Public meetings and bulletins (1) The Board may hold meetings in public to inform the public about, or receive submissions in relation to, the performance of the ACC's functions, including its functions under this Act. (2) The Board may publish bulletins to inform the public about the performance of the ACC's functions, including its functions under this Act. (3) The Board must not: (a) divulge in the course of a meeting held under subsection (1); or (b) include in a bulletin published under subsection (2), any matter the disclosure of which to members of the public could prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been or may be charged with an offence. 49 Annual report (1) An annual report in relation to a year must include the following: (a) a description of any ACC Territory investigation that the ACC conducted during the year and that the Board determined to be a special investigation; (b) a description, which may include statistics, of any patterns or trends, and the nature and scope, of any criminal activity that have come to the attention of the ACC during that year in the performance of its functions under this Act; (c) any recommendations for changes in the laws of the Commonwealth or of a participating State, or for administrative action, that, as a result of the performance of the ACC's functions under this Act, the Board considers should be made; (d) the general nature and the extent of any information given by the CEO during that year under this Act to a law enforcement agency; (e) the extent to which ACC Territory investigations have resulted in the prosecution in that year of persons for offences;

Part 6 General Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 38 (f) the extent to which ACC Territory investigations have resulted in confiscation proceedings; (g) particulars of the number and results of court proceedings involving the ACC in relation to its functions under this Act being proceedings that were determined, or otherwise disposed of, during that year. (2) An annual report must not: (a) identify persons as being suspected of having committed offences; or (b) identify persons as having committed offences unless those persons have been convicted of those offences. (3) In any annual report, the Chair of the Board must take reasonable care to ensure that the identity of a person is not revealed if to reveal his or her identity might, having regard to any material appearing in the report, prejudice the safety or reputation of a person or prejudice the fair trial of a person who has been or may be charged with an offence. (4) The Territory Minister is to cause a copy of each annual report that he or she receives and any accompanying comments made on the report by the Inter-Governmental Committee to be laid before the Legislative Assembly within 15 sitting days after he or she receives the report. (5) In this section: annual report means a report by the Chair of the Board under section 61 of the ACC Act. 50 Things done for multiple purposes The validity of anything done for the purposes of this Act is not affected only because it was done also for the purposes of the ACC Act. 51 Regulations The Administrator may make regulations, not inconsistent with this Act, prescribing matters: (a) required or permitted by this Act to be prescribed; or (b) necessary or convenient to be prescribed for carrying out or giving effect to this Act.

Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 39 Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 52 Repeal The Acts specified in the Schedule are repealed. 53 Terms used in this Part In this Part: NCA investigation means an investigation under section 5(4) of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act. NCA (Territory Provisions) Act means the National Crime Authority (Territory Provisions) Act 1985. 54 Certain investigations taken to be special investigations If an ACC Territory investigation relates to a matter into which an NCA investigation had been commenced but not completed before 1 January 2003, the Board of the ACC is taken to have determined, in writing, that the ACC Territory investigation is a special investigation. 55 Assembling and giving evidence obtained by NCA If: (a) before 1 January 2003, the National Crime Authority obtained evidence of a kind referred to in section 6(1) of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act ; but (b) the National Crime Authority had not assembled and given the evidence as mentioned in that subsection before 1 January 2003, section 34(1) applies as if that evidence had been obtained by the ACC in carrying out an ACC operation/investigation. 56 Limitation on challenges to validity of references Section 8 of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act continues to apply in relation to a reference made under that Act as if that section had not been repealed by this Act.

Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 40 57 Arrangements to obtain information or intelligence An arrangement that was in force under section 11 of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act immediately before 1 January 2003 has effect as if it had been made under section 40. 58 Things seized under search warrants If a thing seized pursuant to a warrant under section 12 of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act is in the ACC's possession, section 29(10) to (13) (inclusive) applies to that thing as if it had been seized pursuant to a warrant under section 29. 59 Directions as to publication (1) If a direction was in force under section 16(9) of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act immediately before 1 January 2003: (a) the direction has effect; and (b) section 18(11), (12) and (16) applies to the direction as if it were a direction under section 18(9). (2) Section 18(13) to (15) (inclusive), so far as those subsections relate to the CEO, applies to evidence in relation to which a direction was given under section 16(9) of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act as if it were evidence given before an examiner in relation to which the examiner has given a direction under section 18(9). 60 Disclosure of summons or notice If a notation made in connection with an NCA investigation was in force under section 18A of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act immediately before 1 January 2003: (a) the notation has effect; (b) section 22 applies to the summons or notice containing the notation; and (c) if there is an ACC operation/investigation relating to the matter to which the NCA investigation related – section 21(4) and (5) applies as if the notation had been made in connection with the ACC operation/investigation. 61 Witness protection Arrangements that were in effect under section 24 of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act immediately before 1 January 2003 have effect as if they had been made under section 26.

Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 41 62 Administrative arrangements in relation to NCA An arrangement that was in force under section 28(b) of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act immediately before 1 January 2003 has effect as if it had been made under section 41. 63 Secrecy obligations (1) Section 44(2) and (3) extend to a former official (whether or not he or she is or has been a person to whom section 44 applies) as if: (a) references in section 44 to this Act or to a corresponding Act of another State or Territory included references to the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act or to a corresponding Act of a State or Territory; and (b) the reference in section 44(3)(b) to an investigation carried out by the ACC included a reference to an investigation carried out by the National Crime Authority before 1 January 2003. (2) In this section: former official means a person who was, at any time, a person to whom section 31 of the NCA (Territory Provisions) Act applied. 64 Transitional regulations (1) If there is no sufficient provision in this Part for dealing with a transitional matter, regulations may prescribe all matters that are required, necessary or convenient to be prescribed in relation to that matter. (2) If regulations made under subsection (1) provide that a state of affairs specified or described in the Regulations is to be taken to have existed, or not to have existed, at and from a day that is earlier than the day on which the Regulations are published in the Gazette but not earlier than the commencement of this Act, the Regulations have effect according to their terms. (3) Regulations that contain a provision referred to in subsection (2) cannot be made more than 12 months after the day on which section 52 comes into operation.

Part 7 Repeals and transitional matters for Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 42 (4) If regulations contain a provision referred to in subsection (3), the provision does not operate so as to: (a) affect in a manner prejudicial to any person (other than the Territory or an authority of the Territory), the rights of that person existing before the day of publication of those regulations; or (b) impose liabilities on any person (other than the Territory or an authority of the Territory) in respect of anything done or omitted to be done before the day of publication of those regulations. (5) In subsection (1): transitional matter includes a savings or application matter.

Schedule Repealed Acts Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 43 Schedule Repealed Acts section 52 National Crime Authority (Territory Provisions) Act 1985 Act No. 20 of 1985 National Crime Authority (Territory Provisions) Amendment Act 1989 Act No. 22 of 1989 National Crime Authority (Territory Provisions) Amendment Act 1994 Act No. 17 of 1996

ENDNOTES Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 44 ENDNOTES 1 KEY Key to abbreviations amd = amended od = order app = appendix om = omitted bl = by-law pt = Part ch = Chapter r = regulation/rule cl = clause rem = remainder div = Division renum = renumbered exp = expires/expired rep = repealed f = forms s = section Gaz = Gazette sch = Schedule hdg = heading sdiv = Subdivision ins = inserted SL = Subordinate Legislation lt = long title sub = substituted nc = not commenced 2 LIST OF LEGISLATION Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 (Act No. 6, 2005) Assent date 17 March 2005 Commenced 18 May 2005 (Gaz G20, 18 May 2005, p 2) Legal Profession (Consequential Amendments) Act 2007 (Act No. 7, 2007) Assent date 17 May 2007 Commenced s 10: 1 July 2007 (Gaz G26, 27 June 2007, p 3); rem: 17 May 2007 Justice Legislation Amendment (Penalties) Act 2010 (Act No. 12, 2010) Assent date 20 May 2010 Commenced 1 July 2010 (Gaz G24, 16 June 2010, p 2) Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations (Consequential Amendments) Act 2010 (Act No. 40, 2010) Assent date 18 November 2010 Commenced 1 March 2011 (s 2, s 2 Oaths, Affidavits and Declarations Act 2010 (Act No. 39, 2010) and Gaz G7, 16 February 2011, p 4) Evidence (National Uniform Legislation) (Consequential Amendments) Act 2012 (Act No. 23, 2012) Assent date 21 November 2012 Commenced 1 January 2013 (Gaz G51, 19 December 2012, p 4) Local Court (Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 8, 2016) Assent date 6 April 2016 Commenced 1 May 2016 (s 2, s 2 Local Court (Repeals and Related Amendments) Act 2016 (Act No. 9, 2016) and Gaz S34, 29 April 2016)

ENDNOTES Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005 45 Justice and Other Legislation Amendment (Australian Crime Commission) Act 2017 (Act No. 9, 2017) Assent date 31 May 2017 Commenced 31 May 2017 3 GENERAL AMENDMENTS General amendments of a formal nature (which are not referred to in the table of amendments to this reprint) are made by the Interpretation Legislation Amendment Act 2018 (Act No. 22, 2018) to: ss 1, 3, 33 and 53. 4 LIST OF AMENDMENTS s 3 amd No. 8, 2016, s 45; No. 9, 2017, s 3 s 5 amd No. 9, 2017, s 4 s 11 amd No. 9, 2017, s 5 s 18 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3 s 19 amd No. 40, 2010, s 118 s 20 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 8, 2016, s 45 s 22 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3 s 23 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 40, 2010, s 118; No. 23, 2012, s 32; No. 8, 2016, s 45 s 25 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 8, 2016, s 45 s 27 amd No. 7, 2007, s 16 s 30 amd No. 40, 2010, s 118 s 35 amd No. 9, 2017, s 6 s 44 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3 s 47 amd No. 12, 2010, s 3; No. 8, 2016, s 45

Source text: opening excerpt

Sourced from NT Legislation (legislation.nt.gov.au), CC BY 4.0.

1 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

For entities and advisers operating in the Territory, the Act prescribes concrete procedural and substantive steps. The following checklist is a practical, source‑grounded compliance guide referencing specific provisions.

Immediate steps on receipt of a summons, notice or warrant:

Check for a notation under s 21 on any summons or notice. If present, note that disclosure of existence or related “official matter” may be prohibited under s 22; permitted disclosures are limited (s 22(2)-(4)). Do not disclose beyond permitted recipients. Keep the written statement required by s 21(3) setting out rights and obligations.
If served with a written notice under s 20 requiring attendance/production, prioritise legal advice: non‑compliance is an offence (s 20(4)). The examiner must have recorded reasons and been satisfied issuance was reasonable (s 20(2)); record service details and preserve chain of custody for any produced documents.
If presented with a search warrant under s 29, inspect the warrant for required contents: stated purpose with reference to the special operation/investigation, time‑of‑entry authorisation, description of things authorised to be seized and expiry date not later than one month from issue (s 29(6)(a)-(d)). Ask for the issuing officer’s signature and copy, and if a telephone warrant was used verify the post‑issue documentation (s 30(3)-(5)).
On seizure, obtain a receipt and inventory of items seized. Note that items may be retained by the head of the special ACC operation/investigation if reasonably necessary (s 29(10)) but otherwise must be returned to apparent owners or delivered to prosecuting authorities (s 29(11)-(13)). If items are given to an Attorney‑General or law enforcement per s 29(12), ask for documentation of that transfer.

Legal privilege and representation:

Use the statutory right to legal representation at examinations (s 18(2)(a)). If a legal practitioner is asked to answer or produce privileged communications, rely on s 23(3)-(5) and preserve client privilege; be prepared to provide client name and address if required under s 23(5).
Remember s 23(10) preserves client legal privilege: assert the privilege formally and document the basis for any claim.

Handling non‑publication notations and secrecy:

If a notation under s 21 is included, ensure the written statement under s 21(3) is provided to the served person and communicated to counsel. Maintain a strict disclosure register to ensure compliance with s 22. Note the notation may be cancelled under s 21(4) on specified outcomes; the CEO must then notify each person served (s 21(5)).
Train relevant staff on s 44 secrecy obligations if they are CEO, Board members, ACC staff or examiners (s 44(1)-(2)). For organisations cooperating with ACC or holding ACC materials, understand that s 44(3) limits compelled production to narrow circumstances.

Responding to required attendance and production:

If a summons under s 19 is issued, note the examiner must be satisfied issuance is reasonable and must record reasons (s 19(2),(3)). Preserve requested documents and, when giving them, record provision and chain of custody.
For notices under s 20, a person must not refuse or fail to comply (s 20(4)) , prepare to negotiate scope before production where legitimate legal constraints apply (privilege, third‑party rights), and record the reasons for any objections.

Engagement with Inter‑Governmental Committee and Board decisions:

If a party is affected by a special determination, note the Inter‑Governmental Committee’s 30‑day window to request further information or revoke the determination (s 16(1), (6)). Prepare to provide information to the Inter‑Governmental Committee within the Chair’s discretion and safety/operational limits (s 16(2)-(5)).
Recognise the limited routes for judicial challenge in Territory courts to Board determinations per s 36; consider timing and forum strategic implications for any review or interlocutory relief.

Operational and recordkeeping measures:

Maintain a documented escalation pathway for any ACC contact, including immediate notification to the organisation’s legal counsel and records custodian; preserve original documents and metadata; create a chain‑of‑custody protocol matched to s 29 procedures.
Log any non‑publication notations, their expiry (s 22(5)) or cancellation triggers (s 21(4)), and the recipient list for permitted disclosures under s 22(4).
For passports and mobility constraints, if subject to a passport delivery order (s 28) or arrest warrant (s 24), advise individuals promptly of rights to apply to a Judge for revocation or bail (s 28(5)-(7), s 24(7)).

Reporting and inter‑agency liaison:

If evidence arises indicating prosecutable offences, expect the CEO to assemble and give evidence to Attorneys‑General or law enforcement under s 34(1). Organisations should be prepared for follow-on civil or criminal action and for potential exchange of intelligence under s 34(11) and (14).
Where internal staff are seconded or made available to the ACC under s 41, ensure seconded staff understand s 44 secrecy obligations and the limits on subsequent disclosure.

Training, policy and audit:

Implement training for board members, executives and compliance teams about the scope of “serious and organised crime” in s 3(d) and corporate responses to ACC notices and warrants.
Audit document retention and privilege practices to be able to identify promptly which documents fall within a notice or a warrant’s description (s 29(6)(c), s 19(4)).
Maintain a legal playbook for interactions with examiners, issuing officers and the CEO, including standard steps to challenge scope where appropriate and safe, and to preserve rights consistent with s 23 privilege protections.

Taken together, the Act’s text requires rapid legal engagement, careful control of confidential information when notations are present, meticulous recordkeeping for seizures and productions, and attention to the limited judicial avenues to review Board determinations.

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

Plain English Summary

Deep Dive

What it does

Current sections

Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

Source text: opening excerpt

1 Australian Crime Commission (Northern Territory) Act 2005

Main concepts

Who it affects

Key duties and rights

Penalties and enforcement

How it interacts with other laws

Amendment history

Litigation history

Gotchas

How to comply