NTIn ForceAct
Criminal Code Act 1983
Div 6Sexual acts committed against close family
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Division 6 Sexual acts committed against close family
members
208M Meaning of close family member ................................................. 202
208MA Incest ........................................................................................... 202
208MB No defence of consent ................................................................. 203
208MC Defence – compulsion ................................................................. 203
Division 7 Sexual acts committed against animal or in
public
208N Sexual involvement with animal................................................... 203
208NA Public masturbation ..................................................................... 203
208P Increased penalty for aggravated offence ................................... 203
208PA Procedural and evidentiary provisions for aggravated offences .. 204
208PB Jury directions on consent ........................................................... 204
208PC Exception – medical, hygienic, veterinary or agricultural
procedures ................................................................................... 205
208PD Alternative verdicts ...................................................................... 205
208PE Indecent images and related articles may be destroyed.............. 205
208PF Article containing indecent images may be returned ................... 206
Criminal Code Act 1983 xvi
209 Definitions .................................................................................... 206
210 Meaning of property for this Division ........................................... 207
211 Person to whom property belongs for this Division ...................... 207
212 Appropriation of property ............................................................. 208
213 Intention of permanently depriving............................................... 209
214 Dishonesty ................................................................................... 209
215 Theft of land................................................................................. 210
216 General deficiency ....................................................................... 210
217 Theft ............................................................................................ 210
218 Robbery ....................................................................................... 211
219 Circumstances of aggravation for robbery ................................... 212
220 Entering building with intention to commit offence ....................... 212
221 Burglary ....................................................................................... 213
222 Circumstances of aggravation for burglary .................................. 213
223 Alternative verdict ........................................................................ 214
224 Damaging or interfering with property as trespasser ................... 214
225 Going equipped for theft and related offences ............................. 215
226 Receiving stolen property ............................................................ 216
227 Shoplifting .................................................................................... 216
228 Making off without payment ......................................................... 217
228AA Removal of item from places open to public ................................ 218
228AB Driving, using or riding motor vehicle, vessel or aircraft without
consent ........................................................................................ 218
228AC Definitions .................................................................................... 219
228AD Meaning of menace ..................................................................... 220
228AE Meaning of obtain ........................................................................ 220
228AF Meaning of demand with a menace ............................................. 221
228AG Intention of permanently depriving............................................... 221
228AH Obtaining property by deception .................................................. 222
228AI Transfers of money etc. ............................................................... 223
228AJ General deficiency ....................................................................... 223
228AK Obtaining financial advantage by deception ................................ 224
Criminal Code Act 1983 xvii
228AL Dishonestly intending to obtain gain from Territory...................... 224
228AM Dishonestly intending to cause loss for Territory ......................... 224
228AN Dishonestly causing loss or risk of loss for Territory .................... 225
228AO Blackmail and extortion ............................................................... 225
228A Definitions .................................................................................... 226
228B Attempt offences in section 43BF do not apply............................ 227
228C Dealing in identification information ............................................. 227
228D Possessing identification information........................................... 228
228E Possessing equipment used to deal in identification
information or identification documentation ................................. 228
228F Alternative verdicts ...................................................................... 229
229 Definitions .................................................................................... 229
230 Money laundering with knowledge or belief ................................. 230
231 Money laundering with recklessness ........................................... 230
232 Dealing with suspicious property ................................................. 231
233 Proof of other offences not required ............................................ 233
234 Prosecution requires consent of Director of Public
Prosecutions ................................................................................ 233
235 Alternative verdict for offence against section 230 ...................... 233
236 Alternative verdict for offence against section 231 ...................... 234
236A Recklessness as to nature of money or property sufficient for
offence of attempt against section 231 ........................................ 234
236B False accounting ......................................................................... 234
236C False statements by officer of body corporate etc. ...................... 236
236D Falsification of registers ............................................................... 237
236E Interpretation ............................................................................... 237
236F Meaning of obtain ........................................................................ 238
236G Bribery – offence by person in relation to agent .......................... 238
236H Bribery – offence by agent ........................................................... 239
236J Other corrupting benefits – offence by person in relation to
agent ........................................................................................... 240
236K Other corrupting benefits – offence by agent ............................... 241
236L Alternative verdict for offence against section 236G.................... 242
236M Alternative verdict for offence against section 236H .................... 242
236N Independent advisor accepting secret commission ..................... 242
Criminal Code Act 1983 xviii
237A Definitions .................................................................................... 243
237B Corrupts wagering outcome of event or contingency................... 244
237C Events and contingencies ............................................................ 244
237D Obtaining financial advantage or causing financial
disadvantage ............................................................................... 244
237E Proof of intention to obtain financial advantage or cause
financial disadvantage ................................................................. 245
237F Encouraging ................................................................................ 245
237G Engaging in conduct that corrupts wagering outcome of event
or contingency ............................................................................. 246
237H Facilitating conduct that corrupts wagering outcome of event
or contingency ............................................................................. 246
237J Concealing conduct or agreement about conduct that corrupts
wagering outcome of event or contingency ................................. 247
237K Use of corrupt conduct information for wagering ......................... 247
237L Use of inside information for wagering ........................................ 248
237M Alternative verdict ........................................................................ 249
238 Definitions .................................................................................... 249
239 Person to whom property belongs ............................................... 250
240 Causing damage or other result .................................................. 251
241 Damage to property ..................................................................... 251
241A Ram-raid ...................................................................................... 252
242 Sabotage ..................................................................................... 253
243 Arson ........................................................................................... 255
244 Bushfires...................................................................................... 256
245 Leaving explosive substance at a place ...................................... 257
246 Endangering operation of aircraft ................................................ 258
247 Obstructing runways .................................................................... 258
Subdivision 3 Circumstances in which there is no criminal
248 Consent ....................................................................................... 259
249 Claim of right ............................................................................... 259
Criminal Code Act 1983 xix
250 Definitions .................................................................................... 260
251 Meaning of false document.......................................................... 260
252 Inducing acceptance that document genuine .............................. 261
253 Forgery ........................................................................................ 261
254 Using false document .................................................................. 261
255 Possess false document .............................................................. 262
256 Making or adapting instrument or material for forgery ................. 263
257 Possessing instrument or material for forgery ............................. 263
276 Interpretation ............................................................................... 264
276A Meaning of access to data, modification of data and
impairment of electronic communication ..................................... 265
276B Unlawful access to data ............................................................... 266
276C Unlawful modification of data ....................................................... 267
276D Unlawful impairment of electronic communication ....................... 267
276E Unlawful use of access time ........................................................ 267
276F Territorial nexus for offences ....................................................... 267
Division 2 Unlawfully obtaining confidential information
276G Unlawfully obtaining confidential information ............................... 268
276H Publishing material about offending conduct ............................... 268
Part VIII Attempts and preparation to commit
offences: conspiracy: accessories after the
fact
277 Attempts to commit offences ....................................................... 270
278 Punishment of attempts to commit offences ................................ 270
280 Attempts to procure commission of criminal offences.................. 270
281 Preparation to commit indictable offence with explosives, &c...... 271
282 Conspiracy to commit indictable offence ..................................... 271
Criminal Code Act 1983 xx
283 Conspiracy to commit summary offence ...................................... 271
284 Conspiracy to deceive or defraud ................................................ 272
285 Conspiracy to lay false charge..................................................... 272
286 Conspiracy to pervert justice ....................................................... 272
288 Conspiracy to carry out seditious enterprise ................................ 272
289 Other conspiracies....................................................................... 272
290 Industrial disputes........................................................................ 273
291 Conspiracy by husband and wife ................................................. 273
292 Position of other conspirators no defence ................................... 273
293 Conspiracy to commit more than one offence ............................. 273
294 Punishment of accessories after the fact ..................................... 274
Division 1 Preliminary proceedings: change of place of
trial: no true bill
295 Jurisdiction................................................................................... 274
297 Change of place of trial ................................................................ 274
297A No true bill ................................................................................... 275
298 Nature of indictments................................................................... 275
299 Altering charges after committal .................................................. 275
300 Ex officio information ................................................................... 276
301 Arrest of person charged in ex officio information........................ 276
302 Nolle prosequi.............................................................................. 276
303 General rule as to indictments ..................................................... 276
304 Commencement of indictment ..................................................... 276
305 Form of indictment ....................................................................... 276
306 Description of property ................................................................ 277
307 Description of persons ................................................................. 277
308 Circumstances in which more than one person may be
charged in the same indictment ................................................... 277
309 Circumstances in which more than one charge may be joined
against the one person ................................................................ 278
310 Circumstances where more than one offence may be charged
as one offence ............................................................................. 278
311 Formal defect............................................................................... 278
312 Order for amendment of indictment ............................................. 279
313 Particulars .................................................................................... 279
314 Application to complaints if charge heard and determined
summarily .................................................................................... 279
315 Offences involving circumstances of aggravation ........................ 279
316 Indictment containing count of murder or manslaughter .............. 280
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxi
317 Charge of homicide of child ......................................................... 280
318 Charge of offence against the person where section 31 or
intoxication is a defence .............................................................. 280
320 Charge of causing event, &c........................................................ 280
321 Charge of property offence .......................................................... 281
322 Charge of theft and criminal deception ........................................ 281
323 Charge of theft or receiving ......................................................... 281
324 Charge of counselling or procuring commission of an offence .... 281
325 Finding of guilt for attempt to commit offence, &c. ....................... 281
326 When evidence shows offence of similar nature.......................... 282
327 Charge of corrupt practices at elections ...................................... 283
328 Charge of theft of animal ............................................................. 283
329 Charge of joint receiving .............................................................. 283
330 Court to determine availability of alternative charge .................... 283
Division 4 Alibi, expert evidence, trial adjournment, pleas
and practice
331 Notice of alibi ............................................................................... 283
331A Notice of expert evidence ............................................................ 284
331B Examination if expert psychiatric or medical evidence to be
adduced ....................................................................................... 286
332 Right to be tried ........................................................................... 286
333 Accelerating trial of persons not under committal ........................ 287
334 Adjournment of trial ..................................................................... 287
335 Enlargement of notices to witnesses ........................................... 288
336 Accused person to be called upon to plead to indictment ............ 288
337 Presence in court and plea where accused is a corporation ....... 288
338 Delivery of copy of indictment ...................................................... 289
339 Motion to quash indictment .......................................................... 290
340 Misnomer ..................................................................................... 290
341 Separate trials where 2 or more charges against the same
person ......................................................................................... 290
341A Presumption of joint trial of sexual offences ................................ 291
341B Presumption of joint trial of domestic violence offences .............. 291
342 Pleas ........................................................................................... 291
343 Defence of truth of defamatory matter to be specially pleaded .... 292
344 Persons committed for sentence ................................................. 292
345 Standing mute ............................................................................. 293
346 Plea of autrefois convict, &c. ....................................................... 293
347 Trial on plea of autrefois convict, &c., royal pardon or to the
jurisdiction.................................................................................... 293
348 Trial by jury .................................................................................. 293
348A Procedure where accused pleads not guilty and crown
adduces no evidence ................................................................... 293
349 Demurrer ..................................................................................... 294
350 Separate trials ............................................................................. 294
351 Juries ........................................................................................... 294
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxii
351A Details of jury panel to be given to accused ................................ 295
352 Accused person to be informed of his right of challenge ............. 295
353 Challenge to array ....................................................................... 295
354 Challenges to individual jurors for cause ..................................... 295
355 Time for challenging .................................................................... 295
356 Ascertainment of facts as to challenge ........................................ 296
358 Jurors to take oath and be informed of charge ............................ 296
359 Discharge of juror by court........................................................... 296
360 Defence by accused person ........................................................ 296
361 Presence of accused ................................................................... 296
362 Evidence in defence .................................................................... 297
363 Speeches and their order ............................................................ 297
364 Summing up ................................................................................ 298
365 Jury not to separate ..................................................................... 298
366 Confinement of jury ..................................................................... 299
367 View ............................................................................................. 299
368 Majority verdict ............................................................................ 299
369 Special verdict ............................................................................. 300
370 General verdict on charge of defamation ..................................... 300
371 Discharge of jury.......................................................................... 300
372 Incapacity of Judge...................................................................... 300
373 Incapacity of juror ........................................................................ 301
374 Verdict on Sunday ....................................................................... 302
375 Further pleas ............................................................................... 302
376 Evidence on trials for perjury ....................................................... 302
378 Evidence of authority ................................................................... 302
379 Admissions .................................................................................. 302
380 Failure to make admission may, in certain circumstances, be
taken into account when passing sentence ................................. 303
381 Discharge of persons acquitted ................................................... 303
383 Acquittal on ground of intoxication ............................................... 303
384 Finding of guilt of property offence with respect to some only
of property in indictment .............................................................. 304
385 Finding of guilt of theft or receiving .............................................. 304
387 Arrest of judgment ....................................................................... 304
Division 7 Hearing summarily-triable offence with
indictable offence
388 Definition...................................................................................... 304
389 Supreme Court may hear and determine summarily-triable
offence with indictable offence..................................................... 305
390 Transmission of charge of summarily-triable offence .................. 305
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxiii
391 Remission of charge to Local Court............................................. 306
Part X Punishment: appeal: miscellaneous
406 Interpretation ............................................................................... 307
407 Court of Criminal Appeal ............................................................. 308
408 Reservation of points of law......................................................... 308
409 Appeal from arrest of judgment ................................................... 309
410 Right of appeal ............................................................................ 309
411 Determination of appeal in ordinary cases .................................. 309
412 Powers of Court in special cases................................................. 310
412A Powers of Court in relation to mental impairment ........................ 310
413 Power to grant new trial ............................................................... 311
414 Appeal and reference by Crown Law Officer ............................... 311
415 Revesting and restitution of property on finding of guilt ............... 312
416 Suspension of order with respect to driver's licence .................... 313
417 Time for appealing ....................................................................... 313
418 Judge's report may be furnished on appeal ................................. 313
419 Supplemental powers .................................................................. 313
420 Presence of appellant .................................................................. 314
421 Presence of respondent who is in custody when appeal
brought by Crown Law Officer ..................................................... 314
422 Appellant or respondent may be sentenced in his absence ........ 315
423 Written argument ......................................................................... 315
424 Costs of appeal............................................................................ 315
425 Admission of appellant to bail and custody when attending
Court ............................................................................................ 315
426 Duties of Registrar ....................................................................... 316
427 Documents, exhibits, &c. ............................................................. 317
428 Record of trial .............................................................................. 317
429 Powers exercisable by a Judge ................................................... 317
430 Appeals from the decision of the Court ........................................ 318
431 Pardoning power preserved......................................................... 318
432 Conditional remission of sentence by Administrator .................... 319
433 Effect of pardon ........................................................................... 319
433A Reference by Attorney-General of certain findings of guilt .......... 319
435 Court may direct certain persons to be prosecuted for perjury .... 320
435A Offences not to attract legal disability except under an Act ......... 321
436 Saving of civil remedies ............................................................... 321
437 No court fees in criminal cases .................................................... 321
438 Copies of depositions to be allowed to persons committed for
trial ............................................................................................... 321
439 Inspection of depositions at trial .................................................. 321
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxiv
440 Standard of proof ......................................................................... 322
441 Arrest without warrant .................................................................. 322
442 Arrest on reasonable grounds not to be taken to be unlawful ...... 323
443 Arrest on board aircraft ................................................................ 323
Division 1 Criminal Code Amendment (Criminal
Responsibility Reform) Act 2005
444 Application of Code to pre-commencement offences .................. 324
Division 2 Criminal Code Amendment (Expert Evidence)
Act 2009
445 Application ................................................................................... 324
Division 3 Criminal Code Amendment (Mental
Impairment and Unfitness for Trial) Act 2010
446 Application to pending matters .................................................... 324
Division 4 Criminal Code Amendment (Female Genital
Mutilation) Act 2013
447 Application of section 186C ......................................................... 325
Division 5 Criminal Code Amendment (Psychiatric or
Medical Evidence) Act 2014
448 Application of section 331B ......................................................... 325
Division 6 Criminal Code Amendment (Hit and Run) Act
449 Application of amendments ......................................................... 325
Division 7 Criminal Code Amendment (Child Abuse
Material) Act 2014
450 Application of section 125B ......................................................... 326
Division 8 Justice and Other Legislation Amendment
451 Application of section 389 ............................................................ 326
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxv
Division 9 Criminal Code Amendment (Presumption of
Joint Trials) Act 2014
452 Application of presumption .......................................................... 326
Division 10 Criminal Code Amendment (Remission for
Resentencing) Act 2015
453 Application of section 411(4) ....................................................... 327
Division 11 Statute Law Amendment (Directors' Liability)
Act 2015
454 Offences – before and after commencement............................... 327
Division 12 Independent Commissioner Against
Corruption (Consequential and Related
Amendments) Act 2018
455 Definitions .................................................................................... 328
456 Application of sections 76 to 78, 80 and 81 as inserted by
amending Act............................................................................... 328
457 Application of section 79 as inserted by amending Act................ 328
458 Definitions .................................................................................... 328
459 Application of section 189A ......................................................... 329
460 Application of section 316 ............................................................ 329
461 Pre-Code offences....................................................................... 329
Division 15 Criminal Code Amendment Act 2021
462 Application of section 43BGA ...................................................... 330
Division 16 Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment Act
463 Application of section 189A ......................................................... 330
Division 17 Criminal Code Amendment (Property
Offences) Act 2022
464 Application of repealed provisions ............................................... 331
Criminal Code Act 1983 xxvi
Division 18 Criminal Code Amendment (Age of Criminal
Responsibility) Act 2022
465 Definitions .................................................................................... 331
466 Application of sections 38 and 43AP ........................................... 332
467 Cessation of proceedings ............................................................ 333
468 Release of child ........................................................................... 333
469 Expungement of charge or conviction ......................................... 333
470 No entitlement to compensation or damages .............................. 335
471 Prior lawful acts not affected........................................................ 336
472 Application of sections 38A and 43AQ ........................................ 336
474 Immunity from civil and criminal liability ....................................... 336
Division 19 Criminal Justice Legislation Amendment
(Sexual Offences) Act 2023
475 Offences – before and after commencement............................... 336
Division 20 Justice Legislation Amendment (Domestic
and Family Violence) Act 2023
476 Definitions .................................................................................... 337
477 Application of amendment to section 188 .................................... 337
478 Application of presumption .......................................................... 338
479 Definition...................................................................................... 338
480 Application of sections 38 and 43AP ........................................... 338
481 Application of sections 38A and 43AQ ........................................ 338
Schedule 1 Provisions of Code to which Part IIAA
applies
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As in force at 3 November 2025
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CRIMINAL CODE ACT 1983
An Act to establish a Code of criminal law