(10) An offence against subsection (1) or (5) committed by a body corporate is punishable on conviction by a fine of not more than the greater of the following:
(a) 50,000 penalty units;
(b) 10% of the annual turnover of the body corporate during the period (the turnover period) of 12 months ending at the end of the month in which the conduct constituting the offence occurred.
(11) For the purposes of this section, the annual turnover of a body corporate, during the turnover period, is the sum of the values of all the supplies that the body corporate, and any body corporate related to the body corporate, have made, or are likely to make, during that period, other than the following supplies:
(a) supplies made from any of those bodies corporate to any other of those bodies corporate;
(b) supplies that are input taxed;
(c) supplies that are not for consideration (and are not taxable supplies under section 72‑5 of the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999);
(d) supplies that are not made in connection with an enterprise that the body corporate carries on.
(12) For the purposes of subsection (11), it is immaterial whether the supplies were made, or are likely to be made, within or outside Australia.
(13) Expressions used in subsections (11) and (12) that are also used in the A New Tax System (Goods and Services Tax) Act 1999 have the same meaning in those subsections as they have in that Act.
(14) The question whether 2 bodies corporate are related to each other is to be determined for the purposes of this section in the same way as for the purposes of the Corporations Act 2001.
When material is removed from a content service
(15) For the purposes of this section, material is removed from a content service if the material is not accessible to any of the end‑users using the service.
474.35 Notice issued by eSafety Commissioner in relation to a content service—presumptions
(1) The eSafety Commissioner may issue a written notice stating that, at the time the notice was issued:
(a) a specified content service could be used to access specified material; and
(b) the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
(2) The eSafety Commissioner must not issue a notice under subsection (1) unless the eSafety Commissioner is satisfied on reasonable grounds that, at the time the notice was issued:
(a) the specified content service could be used to access the specified material; and
(b) the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
(3) As soon as practicable after issuing a notice under subsection (1), the eSafety Commissioner must give a copy of the notice to the person who provides the content service concerned.
(4) The eSafety Commissioner is not required to observe any requirements of procedural fairness in relation to the issue of a notice under subsection (1).
Presumptions
(5) If:
(a) a notice under subsection (1) is issued in relation to a content service provided by a person; and
(b) in a prosecution of the person for an offence against subsection 474.34(1), it is proven that the content service could be used to access the material specified in the notice at the time the notice was issued;
then, in that prosecution, it must be presumed that the person was reckless as to whether the content service could be used to access the specified material at the time the notice was issued, unless the person adduces or points to evidence that suggests a reasonable possibility that the person was not reckless as to whether the content service could be used to access the specified material at the time the notice was issued.
(6) If a notice under subsection (1) is issued in relation to a content service provided by a person, then, in a prosecution of the person for an offence against subsection 474.34(1), it must be presumed that, at the time the notice was issued, the person was reckless as to whether the material specified in the notice was abhorrent violent material, unless the person adduces or points to evidence that suggests a reasonable possibility that, at the time the notice was issued, the person was not reckless as to whether the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
Other evidentiary matters
(7) A document purporting to be a notice issued under subsection (1) must, unless the contrary is established, be taken to be such a notice and to have been properly issued.
(8) The eSafety Commissioner may certify that a document is a copy of a notice issued under subsection (1).
(9) Subsections (5), (6) and (7) apply to the certified copy as if it were the original.
Application
(10) This section extends to matters and things outside Australia.
474.36 Notice issued by eSafety Commissioner in relation to a hosting service—presumptions
(1) The eSafety Commissioner may issue a written notice stating that, at the time the notice was issued:
(a) specified material was hosted on a specified hosting service; and
(b) the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
(2) The eSafety Commissioner must not issue a notice under subsection (1) unless the eSafety Commissioner is satisfied on reasonable grounds that, at the time the notice was issued:
(a) the specified material was hosted on the specified hosting service; and
(b) the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
(3) As soon as practicable after issuing a notice under subsection (1), the eSafety Commissioner must give a copy of the notice to the person who provides the hosting service concerned.
(4) The eSafety Commissioner is not required to observe any requirements of procedural fairness in relation to the issue of a notice under subsection (1).
Presumptions
(5) If:
(a) a notice under subsection (1) is issued in relation to a hosting service provided by a person; and
(b) in a prosecution of the person for an offence against subsection 474.34(5), it is proven that the material specified in the notice was hosted on the hosting service at the time the notice was issued;
then, in that prosecution, it must be presumed that the person was reckless as to whether the specified material was hosted on the hosting service at the time the notice was issued, unless the person adduces or points to evidence that suggests a reasonable possibility that the person was not reckless as to whether specified material was hosted on the hosting service at the time the notice was issued.
(6) If a notice under subsection (1) is issued in relation to a hosting service provided by a person, then, in a prosecution of the person for an offence against subsection 474.34(5), it must be presumed that, at the time the notice was issued, the person was reckless as to whether the material specified in the notice was abhorrent violent material, unless the person adduces or points to evidence that suggests a reasonable possibility that, at the time the notice was issued, the person was not reckless as to whether the specified material was abhorrent violent material.
Other evidentiary matters
(7) A document purporting to be a notice issued under subsection (1) must, unless the contrary is established, be taken to be such a notice and to have been properly issued.
(8) The eSafety Commissioner may certify that a document is a copy of a notice issued under subsection (1).
(9) Subsections (5), (6) and (7) apply to the certified copy as if it were the original.
Application
(10) This section extends to matters and things outside Australia.
474.37 Defences in respect of abhorrent violent material
Content service
(1) Subsection 474.34(1) does not apply to material that can be accessed using a service if:
(a) the accessibility of the material is necessary for enforcing a law of:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country; or
(b) the accessibility of the material is necessary for monitoring compliance with, or investigating a contravention of, a law of:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country; or
(c) the accessibility of the material is for the purposes of proceedings in a court or tribunal; or
(d) both:
(i) the accessibility of the material is necessary for, or of assistance in, conducting scientific, medical, academic or historical research; and
(ii) the accessibility of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of conducting that scientific, medical, academic or historical research; or
(e) the material relates to a news report, or a current affairs report, that:
(i) is in the public interest; and
(ii) is made by a person working in a professional capacity as a journalist; or
(f) both:
(i) the accessibility of the material is in connection with the performance by a public official of the official’s duties or functions; and
(ii) the accessibility of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of the public official performing that duty or function; or
(g) both:
(i) the accessibility of the material is in connection with an individual assisting a public official in relation to the performance of the public official’s duties or functions; and
(ii) the accessibility of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of the individual assisting the public official in relation to the performance of the public official’s duties or functions; or
(h) the accessibility of the material is for the purpose of advocating the lawful procurement of a change to any matter established by law, policy or practice in:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country;
and the accessibility of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for that purpose; or
(i) the accessibility of the material relates to the development, performance, exhibition or distribution, in good faith, of an artistic work.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in this subsection (see subsection 13.3(3)).
Hosting service
(2) Subsection 474.34(5) does not apply to material that is hosted on a hosting service if:
(a) the hosting of the material is necessary for enforcing a law of:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country; or
(b) the hosting of the material is necessary for monitoring compliance with, or investigating a contravention of, a law of:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country; or
(c) the hosting of the material is for the purposes of proceedings in a court or tribunal; or
(d) both:
(i) the hosting of the material is necessary for, or of assistance in, conducting scientific, medical, academic or historical research; and
(ii) the hosting of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of conducting that scientific, medical, academic or historical research; or
(e) the material relates to a news report, or a current affairs report, that:
(i) is in the public interest; and
(ii) is made by a person working in a professional capacity as a journalist; or
(f) both:
(i) the hosting of the material is in connection with the performance by a public official of the official’s duties or functions; and
(ii) the hosting of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of the public official performing that duty or function; or
(g) both:
(i) the hosting of the material is in connection with an individual assisting a public official in relation to the performance of the public official’s duties or functions; and
(ii) the hosting of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for the purpose of the individual assisting the public official in relation to the performance of the public official’s duties or functions; or
(h) the hosting of the material is for the purpose of advocating the lawful procurement of a change to any matter established by law, policy or practice in:
(i) the Commonwealth; or
(ii) a State; or
(iii) a Territory; or
(iv) a foreign country; or
(v) a part of a foreign country;
and the hosting of the material is reasonable in the circumstances for that purpose; or
(i) the hosting of the material relates to the development, performance, exhibition or distribution, in good faith, of an artistic work.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in this subsection (see subsection 13.3(3)).
Functions
(3) The references in this section to function or functions do not, by implication, affect the meaning of the expressions duty or duties when used in any other provision of this Code.
Application
(4) This section extends to matters and things outside Australia.
474.38 Implied freedom of political communication
(1) This Subdivision does not apply to the extent (if any) that it would infringe any constitutional doctrine of implied freedom of political communication.
(2) Subsection (1) does not limit the application of section 15A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 to this Act.
474.39 Provider of content service
(1) For the purposes of this Subdivision, a person does not provide a content service merely because the person supplies a carriage service that enables material to be accessed.
(2) For the purposes of this Subdivision, a person does not provide a content service merely because the person provides a billing service, or a fee collection service, in relation to a content service.
474.40 Service of copies of notices by electronic means
Paragraphs 9(1)(d) and (2)(d) of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 do not apply to a copy of a notice under subsection 474.35(1) or 474.36(1) of this Act.
Note: Paragraphs 9(1)(d) and (2)(d) of the Electronic Transactions Act 1999 deal with the consent of the recipient of information to the information being given by way of electronic communication.
474.41 Giving a copy of a notice to a contact person etc.
Contact person
(1) If:
(a) a copy of a notice under subsection 474.35(1) is required to be given to the provider of a content service that is a social media service (within the meaning of the Online Safety Act 2021); and
(b) there is an individual who is:
(i) an employee or agent of the provider; and
(ii) designated as the service’s contact person for the purposes of that Act; and
(c) the contact details of the contact person have been notified to the eSafety Commissioner;
the copy of the notice is taken to have been given to the provider if it is given to the contact person.
Agent
(2) If:
(a) a copy of a notice under subsection 474.35(1) or 474.36(1) is required to be given to a body corporate incorporated outside Australia; and
(b) the body corporate does not have a registered office or a principal office in Australia; and
(c) the body corporate has an agent in Australia;
the copy of the notice is taken to have been given to the body corporate if it is given to the agent.
Other matters
(3) Subsections (1) and (2) have effect in addition to section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901.
Note: Section 28A of the Acts Interpretation Act 1901 deals with the service of documents.
474.42 Attorney‑General’s consent required for prosecution
Offence against section 474.33
(1) Proceedings for an offence against section 474.33 must not be commenced without the Attorney‑General’s written consent if:
(a) the conduct constituting the alleged offence occurs wholly in a foreign country; and
(b) at the time of the alleged offence, the person alleged to have committed the offence is neither:
(i) an Australian citizen; nor
(ii) a body corporate incorporated by or under a law of the Commonwealth or of a State or Territory.
(2) However, a person may be arrested for, charged with, or remanded in custody or released on bail in connection with, an offence against section 474.33 before the necessary consent has been given.
Offence against section 474.34
(3) Proceedings for an offence against section 474.34 must not be commenced without the Attorney‑General’s written consent.
(4) However, a person may be arrested for, charged with, or remanded in custody or released on bail in connection with, an offence against section 474.34 before the necessary consent has been given.
474.43 Compensation for acquisition of property
(1) If the operation of this Subdivision would result in an acquisition of property (within the meaning of paragraph 51(xxxi) of the Constitution) from a person otherwise than on just terms (within the meaning of that paragraph), the Commonwealth is liable to pay a reasonable amount of compensation to the person.
(2) If the Commonwealth and the person do not agree on the amount of the compensation, the person may institute proceedings in:
(a) the Federal Court of Australia; or
(b) the Supreme Court of a State or Territory;
for the recovery from the Commonwealth of such reasonable amount of compensation as the court determines.
474.44 This Subdivision does not limit Part 9 of the Online Safety Act 2021
This Subdivision does not limit the operation of Part 9 of the Online Safety Act 2021.
474.45 Review of this Subdivision
(1) After the end of the 2‑year period beginning at the commencement of this section, the Minister must cause to be conducted a review of the operation of this Subdivision.
Report
(2) A report of the review must be given to the Minister within 12 months after the end of the 2‑year period mentioned in subsection (1).
(3) The Minister must cause copies of a report under subsection (2) to be tabled in each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Minister receives the report.
Subdivision HA—Offences relating to use of carriage service for violent extremist material