(2) Without limiting who is a grandparent of a person for the purposes of this section, a person (the first person) is the grandparent of another person if the first person is a parent or step‑parent of a parent or step‑parent of the other person.
272.4 Meaning of sexual intercourse
(1) In this Code, sexual intercourse means:
(a) the penetration, to any extent, of the vagina or anus of a person by any part of the body of another person; or
(b) the penetration, to any extent, of the vagina or anus of a person, by an object, carried out by another person; or
(c) fellatio; or
(d) cunnilingus; or
(e) the continuation of any activity mentioned in paragraph (a), (b), (c) or (d).
(2) In this Code, sexual intercourse does not include an act of penetration that:
(a) is carried out for a proper medical or hygienic purpose; or
(b) is carried out for a proper law enforcement purpose.
(3) For the purposes of this section, vagina includes:
(a) any part of a female person’s genitalia; and
(b) a surgically constructed vagina.
272.5 Meaning of offence against this Division and extension of criminal responsibility
(1) A reference in this Division (except section 272.19, which deals with encouraging an offence against this Division) to an offence against this Division, or against a particular provision of it, includes:
(a) a reference to:
(i) an offence against section 6 of the Crimes Act 1914 (accessory after the fact); or
(ii) an offence against section 11.1 (attempt), 11.5 (conspiracy) or 272.19 of this Code;
that relates to an offence against this Division or against that provision of it; and
(b) a reference to an offence against this Division, or against that provision of it, because of section 11.2 (complicity and common purpose), 11.2A (joint commission) or 11.3 (commission by proxy).
(2) A reference in section 272.19 (encouraging offence against this Division) to an offence against this Division or against a particular provision of it does not include a reference to such an offence because of section 11.2 (complicity and common purpose) or 11.2A (joint commission).
(3) Section 11.1 (attempt) does not apply to an offence against:
(a) section 272.14 (procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia); or
(b) section 272.15 (“grooming” child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia); or
(ba) section 272.15A (“grooming” person to make it easier to engage in sexual activity with a child outside Australia); or
(c) section 272.20 (preparing for or planning offence against this Division).
(4) Section 11.4 (incitement) does not apply to an offence against this Division.
(5) Section 11.5 (conspiracy) does not apply to an offence against section 272.19 (encouraging offence against this Division).
272.6 Who can be prosecuted for an offence committed outside Australia
A person must not be charged with an offence against this Division that the person allegedly committed wholly outside Australia unless, at the time of the offence, the person was:
(a) an Australian citizen; or
(b) a resident of Australia; or
(c) a body corporate incorporated by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory; or
(d) any other body corporate that carries on its activities principally in Australia.
272.7 Saving of other laws
This Division is not intended to exclude or limit the operation of any other law of the Commonwealth or any law of a State or Territory.
Note: Division 279 (video link evidence) applies to a proceeding for an offence against this Division.
Subdivision B—Sexual offences against children outside Australia
272.8 Sexual intercourse with child outside Australia
Engaging in sexual intercourse with child
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in sexual intercourse with another person (the child); and
(b) the child is under 16; and
(c) the sexual intercourse is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 25 years.
Causing child to engage in sexual intercourse in presence of defendant
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in conduct in relation to another person (the child); and
(b) that conduct causes the child to engage in sexual intercourse in the presence of the person; and
(c) the child is under 16 when the sexual intercourse is engaged in; and
(d) the sexual intercourse is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 25 years.
(3) The fault element for paragraph (2)(b) is intention.
(4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) and (2)(c) and (d).
Note 1: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.
Note 2: For a defence based on belief about age, see section 272.16.
272.9 Sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with child outside Australia
Engaging in sexual activity with child
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with another person (the child); and
(b) the child is under 16; and
(c) the sexual activity is engaged in outside Australia.
Note: A person is taken to engage in sexual activity if the person is in the presence of another person (including by a means of communication that allows the person to see or hear the other person) while the other person engages in sexual activity: see the definition of engage in sexual activity in the Dictionary.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 20 years.
Causing child to engage in sexual activity in presence of defendant
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in conduct in relation to another person (the child); and
(b) that conduct causes the child to engage in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) in the presence of the person; and
(c) the child is under 16 when the sexual activity is engaged in; and
(d) the sexual activity is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 20 years.
(3) The fault element for paragraph (2)(b) is intention.
(4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) and (2)(c) and (d).
Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.
Defence—child present but defendant does not intend to derive gratification
(5) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) or (2) if:
(a) the conduct constituting the offence consists only of the child being in the presence of the defendant while sexual activity is engaged in; and
(b) the defendant proves that he or she did not intend to derive gratification from the presence of the child during that activity.
Note 1: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see section 13.4.
Note 2: For a defence based on belief about age, see section 272.16.
272.10 Aggravated offence—sexual intercourse or other sexual activity with child outside Australia
(1) A person commits an offence against this section (the aggravated offence) if:
(a) the person commits an offence (the underlying offence) against one of the following provisions in relation to another person (the child):
(i) subsection 272.8(1) (engaging in sexual intercourse with child outside Australia);
(ii) subsection 272.8(2) (causing child to engage in sexual intercourse in presence of defendant outside Australia);
(iii) subsection 272.9(1) (engaging in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with child outside Australia);
(iv) subsection 272.9(2) (causing child to engage in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) in presence of defendant outside Australia); and
(b) one or more of the following apply:
(i) the child has a mental impairment at the time the person commits the underlying offence;
(ii) the person is in a position of trust or authority in relation to the child, or the child is otherwise under the care, supervision or authority of the person, at the time the person commits the underlying offence;
(iii) the child is subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment in connection with the sexual activity referred to in subsection 272.8(1) or (2) or 272.9(1) or (2);
(iv) the child dies as a result of physical harm suffered in connection with the sexual activity referred to in subsection 272.8(1) or (2) or 272.9(1) or (2).
Penalty: Imprisonment for life.
(2) There is no fault element for the physical element described in paragraph (1)(a) other than the fault elements (however described), if any, for the underlying offence.
(3) To avoid doubt, a person does not commit the underlying offence for the purposes of paragraph (1)(a) if the person has a defence to the underlying offence.
(4) Absolute liability applies to subparagraph (1)(b)(i).
Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.
(5) Strict liability applies to subparagraph (1)(b)(ii).
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1.
Defence—belief that child did not have mental impairment
(6) Subparagraph (1)(b)(i) does not apply if the defendant proves that, at the time he or she committed the underlying offence, he or she believed that the child did not have a mental impairment.
Note: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see section 13.4.
(7) In determining whether the defendant had the belief mentioned in subsection (6), the trier of fact may take into account whether the alleged belief was reasonable in the circumstances.
272.11 Persistent sexual abuse of child outside Australia
(1) A person commits an offence against this section if the person commits an offence (the underlying offence) against one or more of the following provisions in relation to the same person (the child) on 2 or more separate occasions during any period:
(a) subsection 272.8(1) (engaging in sexual intercourse with child outside Australia);
(b) subsection 272.8(2) (causing child to engage in sexual intercourse in presence of defendant outside Australia);
(c) subsection 272.9(1) (engaging in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with child outside Australia);
(d) subsection 272.9(2) (causing child to engage in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) in presence of defendant outside Australia).
Penalty: Imprisonment for 30 years.
(2) There is no fault element for any of the physical elements described in subsection (1) other than the fault elements (however described), if any, for the underlying offence.
(3) To avoid doubt, a person does not commit the underlying offence for the purposes of subsection (1) if the person has a defence to the underlying offence.
Offence or conduct need not be the same
(4) For the purposes of subsection (1), it is immaterial whether the underlying offence, or the conduct constituting the underlying offence, is the same on each occasion.
Certain matters need not be proved
(5) In proceedings for an offence against this section, it is not necessary to specify or to prove the dates or exact circumstances of the occasions on which the conduct constituting the offence against this section occurred.
Content of charge
(6) A charge of an offence against this section:
(a) must specify with reasonable particularity the period during which the offence against this section occurred; and
(b) must describe the nature of the separate offences alleged to have been committed by the person during that period.
Trier of fact to be satisfied of certain matters
(7) In order for the person to be found guilty of an offence against this section:
(a) the trier of fact must be satisfied beyond reasonable doubt that the evidence establishes at least 2 separate occasions during the period concerned on which the person engaged in conduct constituting an offence against subsection 272.8(1) or (2) or 272.9(1) or (2), of a nature described in the charge, in relation to the child; and
(b) the trier of fact must be so satisfied about the material facts of the 2 such occasions, although the trier of fact need not be so satisfied about the dates or the order of those occasions; and
(c) if the trier of fact is a jury and more than 2 such occasions are relied on as evidence of the commission of an offence against this section—all the members of the jury must be so satisfied about the same 2 occasions.
(8) In proceedings for an offence against this section, the judge must warn the jury (if any) of the requirements of subsection (7).
Double jeopardy etc.
(9) A person who has been convicted or acquitted of an offence against this section may not be convicted of another offence against section 272.8, 272.9 or 272.10 that is alleged to have been committed in relation to the child in the period during which the person was alleged to have committed the offence against this section.
(10) However, subsection (9) does not prevent an alternative verdict under section 272.28.
(11) A person who has been convicted or acquitted of an offence against section 272.8, 272.9 or 272.10 in relation to a person (the child) may not be convicted of an offence against this section in relation to the child if any of the occasions relied on as evidence of the commission of the offence against this section includes the conduct that constituted the offence of which the person was convicted or acquitted.
272.12 Sexual intercourse with young person outside Australia—defendant in position of trust or authority
Engaging in sexual intercourse with young person
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in sexual intercourse with another person (the young person); and
(b) the young person is at least 16 but under 18; and
(c) the person is in a position of trust or authority in relation to the young person; and
(d) the sexual intercourse is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
Causing young person to engage in sexual intercourse in presence of defendant
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in conduct in relation to another person (the young person); and
(b) that conduct causes the young person to engage in sexual intercourse in the presence of the person; and
(c) the young person is at least 16 but under 18 when the sexual intercourse is engaged in; and
(d) the person is in a position of trust or authority in relation to the young person; and
(e) the sexual intercourse is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 10 years.
(3) The fault element for paragraph (2)(b) is intention.
(4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(b) and (d) and (2)(c) and (e).
Note 1: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.
Note 2: For a defence based on belief about age, see section 272.16.
(5) Strict liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c) and (2)(d).
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1.
272.13 Sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with young person outside Australia—defendant in position of trust or authority
Engaging in sexual activity with young person
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) with another person (the young person); and
(b) the young person is at least 16 but under 18; and
(c) the person is in a position of trust or authority in relation to the young person; and
(d) the sexual activity is engaged in outside Australia.
Note: A person is taken to engage in sexual activity if the person is in the presence of another person (including by a means of communication that allows the person to see or hear the other person) while the other person engages in sexual activity: see the definition of engage in sexual activity in the Dictionary.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 7 years.
Causing young person to engage in sexual activity in presence of defendant
(2) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in conduct in relation to another person (the young person); and
(b) that conduct causes the young person to engage in sexual activity (other than sexual intercourse) in the presence of the person; and
(c) the young person is at least 16 but under 18 when the sexual activity is engaged in; and
(d) the person is in a position of trust or authority in relation to the young person; and
(e) the sexual activity is engaged in outside Australia.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 7 years.
(3) The fault element for paragraph (2)(b) is intention.
(4) Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(b) and (d) and (2)(c) and (e).
Note 1: For absolute liability, see section 6.2.
Note 2: For a defence based on belief about age, see section 272.16.
(5) Strict liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c) and (2)(d).
Note: For strict liability, see section 6.1.
Defence—young person present but defendant does not intend to derive gratification
(6) It is a defence to a prosecution for an offence against subsection (1) or (2) if:
(a) the conduct constituting the offence consists only of the young person being in the presence of the defendant while sexual activity is engaged in; and
(b) the defendant proves that he or she did not intend to derive gratification from the presence of the young person during that activity.
Note 1: A defendant bears a legal burden in relation to the matter in this subsection, see section 13.4.
Note 2: For a defence based on belief about age, see section 272.16.
272.14 Procuring child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia
(1) A person commits an offence if:
(a) the person engages in conduct in relation to another person (the child); and
(b) the person does so with the intention of procuring the child to engage in sexual activity (whether or not with the person) outside Australia; and
(c) the child is someone:
(i) who is under 16; or
(ii) who the person believes to be under 16; and
(d) one or more of the following apply:
(i) the conduct referred to in paragraph (a) occurs wholly or partly outside Australia;
(ii) the child is outside Australia when the conduct referred to in paragraph (a) occurs;
(iii) the conduct referred to in paragraph (a) occurs wholly in Australia and the child is in Australia when that conduct occurs.