23ACircumstances for electronic reporting

23A Circumstances for electronic reporting

(1) The Chief Commissioner of Police may direct or permit a registrable offender to make a report referred to in section 23(1) by audio link, audio visual link or electronic communication, if the Chief Commissioner of Police reasonably believes that—

(a) a relevant declaration is in force; and

(b) a related circumstance referred to in subsection (2) exists.

(2) For the purposes of subsection (1)(b), a related circumstance is any one of the following—

(a) for a pandemic declaration—

(i) that the registrable offender resides or sleeps on a regular basis within an area to which the declaration applies; or

(ii) that the place at which the report is otherwise required to be made, being a police station or other place approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police, is within an area to which the declaration applies; or

(iii) that the registrable offender is unable to make the report in person without contravening a pandemic order or a lawful direction given, or a requirement made, in the exercise of a pandemic management power or a public health risk power under the Public Health and Wellbeing Act 2008;

(b) for a declaration of a state of emergency—

(i) that the registrable offender resides or sleeps on a regular basis within the emergency area in which the state of emergency exists; or

(ii) that the place at which the report is otherwise required to be made, being a police station or other place approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police, is within the emergency area in which the state of emergency exists;

(c) for a declaration of a state of disaster—

(i) that the registrable offender resides or sleeps on a regular basis within the disaster area as defined in section 22(1) of the Emergency Management Act 1986; or

(ii) that the place at which the report is otherwise required to be made, being a police station or other place approved by the Chief Commissioner of Police, is within the disaster area as defined in section 22(1) of the Emergency Management Act 1986.

(3) Only a police officer approved for the purpose by the Chief Commissioner of Police may receive a report made in accordance with a direction or permission purportedly given under subsection (1).

(4) Subject to subsections (5) and (6), a registrable offender to whom a direction is given in accordance with subsection (1) must comply with that direction.

S. 23A(5) amended by No. 55/2025 s. 65.

(5) If a registrable offender to whom a direction or permission is given under subsection (1) is a child, any parent of the child or, if a parent is not available, an independent person, may make the report on the registrable offender's behalf.