34Damaging or interfering with an Australian travel document

#### 34 Damaging or interfering with an Australian travel document (1) A person commits an offence if: (a) the person engages in conduct in relation to an Australian travel document; and (b) the conduct results in: (i) the destruction of the Australian travel document; or (ii) damage to, manipulation of, or tampering or interference with the Australian travel document; or (iii) damage to, manipulation of, or tampering or interference with the Australian travel document’s contactless integrated circuit; or (iv) the removal of the Australian travel document’s contactless integrated circuit. Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years or 1,000 penalty units, or both. (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse. > Note: The defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (2). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code.