Inquiry
into the Provisions of the Crimes Legislation Amendment
(Telecommunications Offences and Other Measures) Bill (No. 2) 2004
On 5 August 2004, the Senate
referred the provisions of the above Bill to the Senate Legal and
Constitutional Legislation Committee for inquiry and report by 11 August
2004.
The Bill will repeal the
telecommunications offences in the
Crimes Act 1914 and replace them with new and updated
telecommunications offences in the
Criminal Code.
Updating and moving existing Crimes Act offences into the Criminal Code is a
part of
the process of placing all the Commonwealth’s serious offences in the Code.
The
proposed offences prohibiting child pornography and child abuse material
focus on the use offenders make of the anonymity of new technological tools,
such as the Internet, to further their exploitative ends. In line with the
tough federal crimes sex tourism offences in the
Crimes Act 1914, new offences
will also target online ‘grooming’ activities by sexual predators.
Also
among the new and updated offences proposed to be included in the
Criminal
Code are
offences dealing with menacing, harassing or offensive use of a
telecommunications service, including the Internet; modification of the
International Mobile Equipment Identity (IMEI) number of mobile phones;
copying of mobile phone Subscriber Identity Module (SIM) card data; threats
and hoaxes made using a telecommunications service; and improper use of the
emergency call service.
The Bill also inserts into the
Criminal Code Part 9.6 -
‘Contamination offences’ -
which contains new offences targeting those
who contaminate, falsely state that they have contaminated or threaten to
contaminate, goods intending to cause public alarm, economic loss or (for
some offences) harm to public health. These offences are designed to
complement existing State and Territory offences, providing coverage for
contamination or threatened contamination which is of national significance.
Terms of Reference
Submissions
General Notes to Assist in the Preparation of Submissions
Lodging Submissions
Submissions are
called for by 6 August 2004. Submissions become Committee
documents and are only made public after a decision by the Committee.
Unauthorised release of submissions is not covered by parliamentary privilege.
Further assistance can be obtained by phoning the secretariat on (02)
6277 3560.
The Committee encourages the lodgement of submissions in electronic
form to legcon.sen@aph.gov.au.
Please ensure that a postal address and phone number is enclosed with
all email submissions.
Submissions may also be faxed to (02) 6277 5794.
Public
Hearings
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Monday 9 August 2004 |
Canberra |
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Report - Tabled 11 August 2004
For further information
The Secretariat
Senate Legal and Constitutional Committee
Room S1.61, Parliament House
Canberra ACT 2600
AUSTRALIA
Telephone: (02) 6277 3560
Fax: (02) 6277 5794
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