31Applications for authorisation

#### 31 Applications for authorisation (1) The head (however described) of a security authority that has functions that include activities relating to developing or testing technologies, or interception capabilities, or a person acting as that head, may request the Attorney‑General to authorise, under section 31A, interception of communications passing over a telecommunications system: (a) if one or more carriers are specified in the request for the purposes of this paragraph—by: (i) employees of the security authority authorised under section 31B; and (ii) employees of those carriers; or (b) if no carriers are specified in the request for the purposes of paragraph (a)—by employees of the security authority authorised under section 31B. (2) The request: (a) must be in writing; and (b) must include details of the development or testing of technologies, or interception capabilities, in relation to which authorisation is sought; and (c) must include details of the extent to which the development or testing would involve, or would be likely to involve, interception of communications passing over a telecommunications system; and (d) must refer to the functions of the authority that the development or testing would support; and (e) must state the grounds for seeking the authorisation; and (f) must summarise the outcomes of any previous authorisations given to the authority under section 31A in relation to the technology or interception capability that is the subject of the application; and (g) must nominate the period (not exceeding 6 months) for which the authorisation is sought to be in force. (3) The reference in subsection (1) and paragraph (2)(c) to interception of communications passing over a telecommunications system includes a reference to the accessing of the communications as stored communications after they have ceased to pass over a telecommunications system.