(5) Without limiting section 15A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901, this section does not apply to the extent (if any) that it would infringe any constitutional doctrine of implied freedom of political communication.
(6) Section 15.3 (extended geographical jurisdiction—category C) applies to each offence against this section.
(7) In this section:
Commonwealth body means:
(a) a Commonwealth entity; or
(b) a Commonwealth company (within the meaning of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013); or
(c) a service, benefit, program or facility for some or all members of the public that is provided by or on behalf of the Commonwealth, whether under a law of the Commonwealth or otherwise.
conduct does not include conduct engaged in solely for genuine satirical, academic or artistic purposes.
Subdivision B—Injunctions
150.5 Injunctions
Enforceable provisions
(1) Section 150.1 is enforceable under Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers Act.
Note: Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers Act creates a framework for using injunctions to enforce provisions.
Authorised person
(2) For the purposes of Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers Act, any person whose interests have been, or would be, affected by conduct mentioned in subsection 150.1(1) or (2) is an authorised person in relation to section 150.1.
Relevant court
(3) For the purposes of Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers Act, each of the following courts is a relevant court in relation to section 150.1:
(a) the Federal Court of Australia;
(b) the Federal Circuit and Family Court of Australia (Division 2);
(c) the Supreme Court of a State or Territory;
(d) the District Court (or equivalent) of a State or Territory.
Extension to external Territories etc.
(4) Part 7 of the Regulatory Powers Act, as that Part applies in relation to section 150.1, extends to:
(a) every external Territory; and
(b) conduct outside Australia; and
(c) conduct that results in, or is reasonably capable of resulting in, a representation outside Australia; and
(d) conduct that is intended to result in a gain, a loss or influence outside Australia.
Part 7.20—Miscellaneous
Division 261—Miscellaneous
261.1 Saving of other laws
This Chapter is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of any other law of the Commonwealth or any law of a State or Territory.
261.2 Contempt of court
This Chapter does not limit the power of a court to punish a contempt of the court.
261.3 Ancillary offences
To avoid doubt, subsection 11.6(2) does not apply to the following provisions:
(a) subsection 131.1(2) (theft);
(b) subsection 132.1(2) (receiving);
(c) subsection 132.2(2) (robbery);
(d) subsection 132.3(2) (aggravated robbery);
(e) subsections 132.4(2), (5) and (9) (burglary);
(f) subsection 132.5(2) (aggravated burglary);
(g) the definitions of aggravated burglary, aggravated robbery, burglary, receiving, robbery and theft in the Dictionary.
Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia
Criminal Code Act 1995
No. 12, 1995
Compilation No. 173
Compilation date: 14 March 2026
Includes amendments: Act No. 7, 2026
This compilation is in 3 volumes
Volume 1: sections 1‑5
Schedule (sections 1.1‑261.3)
Volume 2: Schedule (sections 268.1‑395.50)
Volume 3: Schedule (sections 400.1‑490.7)
Schedule (Dictionary)
Endnotes
Each volume has its own contents
About this compilation
This compilation
This is a compilation of the Criminal Code Act 1995 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 14 March 2026 (the compilation date).
The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.
Uncommenced amendments
The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Register (www.legislation.gov.au).
Application, saving and transitional provisions
If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.
Editorial changes
For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.
Presentational changes
The Legislation Act 2003 provides for First Parliamentary Counsel to make presentational changes to a compilation. Presentational changes are applied to give a more consistent look and feel to legislation published on the Register, and enable the user to more easily navigate those documents.
Modifications
If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. Any modifications affecting the law are accessible on the Register.
Self‑repealing provisions
If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.
Contents
Schedule—The Criminal Code
Chapter 8—Offences against humanity and related offences
Division 268—Genocide, crimes against humanity, war crimes and crimes against the administration of the justice of the International Criminal Court
Subdivision A—Introductory
268.1 Purpose of Division
268.2 Outline of offences
Subdivision B—Genocide
268.3 Genocide by killing
268.4 Genocide by causing serious bodily or mental harm
268.5 Genocide by deliberately inflicting conditions of life calculated to bring about physical destruction
268.6 Genocide by imposing measures intended to prevent births
268.7 Genocide by forcibly transferring children
Subdivision C—Crimes against humanity
268.8 Crime against humanity—murder
268.9 Crime against humanity—extermination
268.10 Crime against humanity—enslavement
268.11 Crime against humanity—deportation or forcible transfer of population
268.12 Crime against humanity—imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty
268.13 Crime against humanity—torture
268.14 Crime against humanity—rape
268.15 Crime against humanity—sexual slavery
268.16 Crime against humanity—enforced prostitution
268.17 Crime against humanity—forced pregnancy
268.18 Crime against humanity—enforced sterilisation
268.19 Crime against humanity—sexual violence
268.20 Crime against humanity—persecution
268.21 Crime against humanity—enforced disappearance of persons
268.22 Crime against humanity—apartheid
268.23 Crime against humanity—other inhumane act
Subdivision D—War crimes that are grave breaches of the Geneva Conventions and of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions
268.24 War crime—wilful killing
268.25 War crime—torture
268.26 War crime—inhumane treatment
268.27 War crime—biological experiments
268.28 War crime—wilfully causing great suffering
268.29 War crime—destruction and appropriation of property
268.30 War crime—compelling service in hostile forces
268.31 War crime—denying a fair trial
268.32 War crime—unlawful deportation or transfer
268.33 War crime—unlawful confinement
268.34 War crime—taking hostages
Subdivision E—Other serious war crimes that are committed in the course of an international armed conflict
268.35 War crime—attacking civilians
268.36 War crime—attacking civilian objects
268.37 War crime—attacking personnel or objects involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission
268.38 War crime—excessive incidental death, injury or damage
268.39 War crime—attacking undefended places
268.40 War crime—killing or injuring a person who is hors de combat
268.41 War crime—improper use of a flag of truce
268.42 War crime—improper use of a flag, insignia or uniform of the adverse party
268.43 War crime—improper use of a flag, insignia or uniform of the United Nations
268.44 War crime—improper use of the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions
268.45 War crime—transfer of population
268.46 War crime—attacking protected objects
268.47 War crime—mutilation
268.48 War crime—medical or scientific experiments
268.49 War crime—treacherously killing or injuring
268.50 War crime—denying quarter
268.51 War crime—destroying or seizing the enemy’s property
268.52 War crime—depriving nationals of the adverse power of rights or actions
268.53 War crime—compelling participation in military operations
268.54 War crime—pillaging
268.55 War crime—employing poison or poisoned weapons
268.56 War crime—employing prohibited gases, liquids, materials or devices
268.57 War crime—employing prohibited bullets
268.58 War crime—outrages upon personal dignity
268.59 War crime—rape
268.60 War crime—sexual slavery
268.61 War crime—enforced prostitution
268.62 War crime—forced pregnancy
268.63 War crime—enforced sterilisation
268.64 War crime—sexual violence
268.65 War crime—using protected persons as shields
268.66 War crime—attacking persons or objects using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions
268.67 War crime—starvation as a method of warfare
268.68 War crime—using, conscripting or enlisting children
Subdivision F—War crimes that are serious violations of article 3 common to the Geneva Conventions and are committed in the course of an armed conflict that is not an international armed conflict
268.69 Definition of religious personnel
268.70 War crime—murder
268.71 War crime—mutilation
268.72 War crime—cruel treatment
268.73 War crime—torture
268.74 War crime—outrages upon personal dignity
268.75 War crime—taking hostages
268.76 War crime—sentencing or execution without due process
Subdivision G—War crimes that are other serious violations of the laws and customs applicable in an armed conflict that is not an international armed conflict
268.77 War crime—attacking civilians
268.78 War crime—attacking persons or objects using the distinctive emblems of the Geneva Conventions
268.79 War crime—attacking personnel or objects involved in a humanitarian assistance or peacekeeping mission
268.80 War crime—attacking protected objects
268.81 War crime—pillaging
268.82 War crime—rape
268.83 War crime—sexual slavery
268.84 War crime—enforced prostitution
268.85 War crime—forced pregnancy
268.86 War crime—enforced sterilisation
268.87 War crime—sexual violence
268.88 War crime—using, conscripting or enlisting children
268.89 War crime—displacing civilians
268.90 War crime—treacherously killing or injuring
268.91 War crime—denying quarter
268.92 War crime—mutilation
268.93 War crime—medical or scientific experiments
268.94 War crime—destroying or seizing an adversary’s property
Subdivision H—War crimes that are grave breaches of Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions
268.95 War crime—medical procedure
268.96 War crime—removal of blood, tissue or organs for transplantation
268.97 War crime—attack against works or installations containing dangerous forces resulting in excessive loss of life or injury to civilians
268.98 War crime—attacking undefended places or demilitarized zones
268.99 War crime—unjustifiable delay in the repatriation of prisoners of war or civilians
268.100 War crime—apartheid
268.101 War crime—attacking protected objects
Subdivision J—Crimes against the administration of the justice of the International Criminal Court
268.102 Perjury
268.103 Falsifying evidence
268.104 Destroying or concealing evidence
268.105 Deceiving witnesses
268.106 Corrupting witnesses or interpreters
268.107 Threatening witnesses or interpreters
268.108 Preventing witnesses or interpreters
268.109 Preventing production of things in evidence
268.110 Reprisals against witnesses
268.111 Reprisals against officials of the International Criminal Court
268.112 Perverting the course of justice
268.113 Receipt of a corrupting benefit by an official of the International Criminal Court
268.114 Subdivision not to apply to certain conduct
Subdivision K—Miscellaneous
268.115 Responsibility of commanders and other superiors
268.116 Defence of superior orders
268.117 Geographical jurisdiction
268.118 Double jeopardy
268.119 Offences related to exercise of jurisdiction of International Criminal Court
268.120 Saving of other laws
268.121 Bringing proceedings under this Division
268.122 Attorney‑General’s decisions in relation to consents to be final
268.123 Legal representation
268.124 Proof of application of Geneva Conventions or Protocol I to the Geneva Conventions