Police Offences Act 1935
13AObservation or recording in breach of privacy
Start here
Get a plain-English read of 13A
Turn the raw legal text into a practical explanation grounded in Police Offences Act 1935.
13A Observation or recording in breach of privacy
[Section 13A Inserted by No. 39 of 2007, s. 5, Applied:21 Nov 2007]
(1) A person who observes or visually records another person, in circumstances where a reasonable person would expect to be afforded privacy –
(a) without the other person's consent; and
(b) when the other person –
(i) is in a private place; or
(ii) is engaging in a private act and the observation or visual recording is made for the purpose of observing or visually recording a private act –
is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.
(2) [Section 13A Subsection (2) substituted by No. 15 of 2014, s. 12, Applied:19 Dec 2014] A person who observes or visually records another person's genital or anal region, in circumstances where a reasonable person would expect to be afforded privacy in relation to that region, when the observation or visual recording is made for the purpose of observing or visually recording the other person's genital or anal region is guilty of an offence.
Penalty: Fine not exceeding 50 penalty units or imprisonment for a term not exceeding 12 months, or both.
(2A) [Section 13A Subsection (2A) inserted by No. 15 of 2014, s. 12, Applied:19 Dec 2014] It is a defence to proceedings for an offence against subsection (2) for the defendant to provide evidence that the observation or visual recording was carried out with the consent of the person observed or visually recorded.
(2B) [Section 13A Subsection (2B) inserted by No. 15 of 2014, s. 12, Applied:19 Dec 2014] If a police officer has reasonable grounds to believe that a person is contravening or has contravened subsection (1) or (2) , the police officer may, without warrant and using such force, means and assistance as is reasonably necessary –