10Consent of Attorney‑General required for prosecutions

10 Consent of Attorney‑General required for prosecutions

(1) Proceedings for the commitment of a person for trial on indictment for an offence against this Act, or for the summary trial of a person for an offence against this Act, shall not be instituted except with the consent in writing of the Attorney‑General. (2) Notwithstanding that a consent has not been given in relation to the offence in accordance with subsection (1): (a) a person may be charged with an offence against this Act; (b) a person may be arrested for an offence against this Act, and a warrant for such an arrest may be issued and executed; and (c) a person so charged may be remanded in custody or on bail; but no further step in proceedings referred to in subsection (1) shall be taken in relation to the offence until such a consent has been given. (3) Nothing in subsection (2) prevents the discharge of the accused if proceedings are not continued within a reasonable time. (4) A reference in this section to an offence against this Act includes a reference to an offence against section 6 of the Crimes Act 1914, or section 11.1, 11.4 or 11.5 of the Criminal Code, being an offence that relates to an offence against this Act.