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Crimes Act 1900
61BIntimate observations or capturing visual data etc
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61B Intimate observations or capturing visual data etc
(1) A person (the offender) commits an offence if—
(a) the offender—
(i) observes another person with the aid of a device; or
(ii) captures visual data of another person; and
(b) a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances, consider the
observing or capturing of visual data to be—
(i) an invasion of privacy; and
(ii) indecent.
(a) for an aggravated offence—250 penalty units, imprisonment for
(b) in any other case—200 penalty units, imprisonment for 2 years
(2) Strict liability applies to subsection (1) (b) (i).
(3) Absolute liability applies to subsection (1) (b) (ii).
(4) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1)
if the defendant proves that the defendant—
(a) believed on reasonable grounds that the other person consented
to the defendant observing or capturing visual data of the other
(b) did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have
known, that the observing or capturing of visual data of the other
person was without consent.
(5) A person (the offender) commits an offence if—
(a) the offender observes with the aid of a device or captures visual
data of—
(i) another person’s genital or anal region; or
(ii) for a female or a transgender or intersex person who
identifies as a female—the breasts; and
using a mobile phone to take photos of a woman’s underwear under her skirt
or down the front of her blouse
(b) a reasonable person would, in all the circumstances, consider the
observing or capturing of visual data to be an invasion of
privacy.
(a) for an aggravated offence—250 penalty units, imprisonment for
(b) in any other case—200 penalty units, imprisonment for 2 years
(6) Strict liability applies to subsection (5) (b).
(7) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (5)
if the defendant proves that the defendant—
(a) believed on reasonable grounds that the other person consented
to the defendant observing or capturing visual data of the other
person’s genital or anal region or breasts; or
(b) did not know, and could not reasonably be expected to have
known, that the observing or capturing of visual data of the other
person’s genital or anal region or breasts was without consent.
s (7) (see Criminal Code, s 59).
(8) Subsections (1) and (5) do not apply to—
(a) an observation made by viewing data that was previously
captured; or
(b) an observation or capturing of visual data—
(i) by a law enforcement officer acting reasonably in the
performance of the officer’s duty; or
(ii) by a licensed security provider acting reasonably in
carrying on a security activity authorised under the security
provider’s licence; or
(iii) of a child or other person incapable of giving consent in
circumstances in which a reasonable person would regard
the observing or capturing of visual data as acceptable; or
taking a photograph or movie of a naked newborn relative
(iv) for a scientific, medical or educational purpose; or
a patient consents to her doctor taking an image of a mole on her breast
for the purpose of showing another doctor for a second opinion about
the mole
(v) by a person in the course of reasonably protecting premises
owned by the person; or
(vi) in circumstances or for a purpose prescribed by regulation.
(9) Nothing in subsection (8) prevents a person being found guilty of an
offence under or because of the Criminal Code, part 2.4 (Extensions
of criminal responsibility).
(10) In this section:
breasts, of a female or a transgender or intersex person who identifies
as a female, means the person’s breasts whether covered by
underwear or bare.
capture visual data—a person captures visual data of another person
if the person captures moving or still images of the other person by a
camera or any other means in such a way that—
(a) a recording is made of the images; or
(b) the images are capable of being transmitted in real time with or
without retention or storage in a physical or electronic form; or
(c) the images are otherwise capable of being distributed.
device does not include spectacles, contact lenses or a similar device
when used by someone with impaired sight to overcome the
impairment.
genital or anal region, of a person, means the person’s genital or anal
region whether covered by underwear or bare.
law enforcement officer means—
(b) a member of the staff of the Australian Crime Commission
established by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002
(Cwlth).
licensed security provider means a person who holds a licence under
the Security Industry Act 2003.
security activity—see the Security Industry Act 2003, section 7.