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CRIMES LEGISLATION AMENDMENT (UNEXPLAINED WEALTH AND OTHER MEASURES) BILL 2014

 

 

 

2013-2014 

 

The Parliament of the 

Commonwealth of Australia 

 

HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES 

 

 

 

 

Presented and read a first time 

 

 

 

 

Crimes Legislation Amendment 

(Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

 

No.      , 2014 

 

(Justice) 

 

 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to the 

criminal law, and for related purposes 

   

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

i 

 

Contents 

Short title ........................................................................................... 1

 

Commencement ................................................................................. 1

 

Schedule(s) ........................................................................................ 2

 

Schedule 1--Unexplained wealth

 

3

 

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

 

3

 

Schedule 2--Other amendments

 

16

 

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

 

16

 

 

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

1 

 

A Bill for an Act to amend legislation relating to the 

criminal law, and for related purposes 

The Parliament of Australia enacts: 

1  Short title 

 

  This Act may be cited as the Crimes Legislation Amendment 

(Unexplained Wealth and Other Measures) Act 2014

2  Commencement 

 

  This Act commences on the day after this Act receives the Royal 

Assent. 

   

   

 

 

2 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

3  Schedule(s) 

 

  Each Act that is specified in a Schedule to this Act is amended or 

repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule 

concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this Act has effect 

according to its terms. 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

3 

 

Schedule 1

--

Unexplained wealth 

   

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 

1  After paragraph 5(d) 

Insert: 

 

(da)  to undermine the profitability of criminal enterprises; and 

2  Subsection 20A(1) 

Omit "may order", substitute "must order". 

3  Subsections 20A(3A) to (3C) 

Repeal the subsections. 

10 

4  Subsection 20A(4) 

11 

Omit all the words from and including "if" to and including "the order" 

12 

substitute: 

13 

 

  if the court is satisfied that: 

14 

 

(a)  there are not reasonable grounds to suspect that the person's 

15 

*

total wealth exceeds by $100,000 or more the value of the 

16 

person's 

*

wealth that was 

*

lawfully acquired; or 

17 

 

(b)  it is not in the public interest to make the order. 

18 

5  Subsection 20A(4A) 

19 

Omit "subsection (1)", substitute "this section". 

20 

6  Subsection 20A(5) 

21 

Omit "may", substitute "must". 

22 

7  After subsection 45(6) 

23 

Insert: 

24 

Restraining orders and charges relating to unexplained wealth 

25 

orders 

26 

 

(6A)  If: 

27 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

4 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(a)  a 

*

restraining order referred to in paragraph 179SA(1)(b) 

would otherwise cease to be in force under this section at a 

particular time; but 

 

(b)  a charge on the property against which the restraining order 

was made is created by subsection 179SA(1) before that 

time; 

then despite anything in subsection (1), (2), (3) or (6) of this 

section, the restraining order does not cease to be in force until the 

charge ceases to have effect in respect of the property in 

accordance with subsection 179SA(2). 

10 

Section does not apply to unexplained wealth restraining orders 

11 

8  Subsection 45A(1) 

12 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

13 

Restraining orders made before application for unexplained wealth 

14 

order 

15 

 

(1)  A 

*

restraining order made under section 20A ceases to be in force 

16 

if: 

17 

 

(a)  no application for an 

*

unexplained wealth order had been 

18 

made in relation to the 

*

suspect to whom the restraining order 

19 

relates before the restraining order was made; and 

20 

 

(b)  no such application has been made in relation to the suspect 

21 

within 28 days after the restraining order was made. 

22 

9  Paragraph 45A(2)(c) 

23 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

24 

 

(c)  the court refuses to make either: 

25 

 

(i)  a 

*

preliminary unexplained wealth order in connection 

26 

with the application for the unexplained wealth order; or 

27 

 

(ii)  the unexplained wealth order itself; and 

28 

10  After subsection 45A(3) 

29 

Insert: 

30 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

5 

 

Restraining orders made after application for unexplained wealth 

order 

 

(3A)  A 

*

restraining order made under section 20A ceases to be in force 

if: 

 

(a)  the restraining order was made at the same time as or after an 

application for an 

*

unexplained wealth order is made in 

relation to the 

*

suspect to whom the restraining order relates; 

and 

 

(b)  the court refuses to make either: 

 

(i)  a 

*

preliminary unexplained wealth order in connection 

10 

with the application for the unexplained wealth order; or 

11 

 

(ii)  the unexplained wealth order itself; and 

12 

 

(c)  one of the following applies: 

13 

 

(i)  the time for an appeal against the refusal has expired 

14 

without an appeal being lodged; 

15 

 

(ii)  an appeal against the refusal has lapsed; 

16 

 

(iii)  an appeal against the refusal has been dismissed and 

17 

finally disposed of. 

18 

 

(3B)  A 

*

restraining order made under section 20A ceases to be in force 

19 

if: 

20 

 

(a)  the restraining order was made at the same time as or after an 

21 

application for an 

*

unexplained wealth order is made in 

22 

relation to the 

*

suspect to whom the restraining order relates; 

23 

and 

24 

 

(b)  the court makes the unexplained wealth order (whether 

25 

before or after the restraining order was made or applied for); 

26 

and 

27 

 

(c)  either: 

28 

 

(i)  the unexplained wealth order is complied with; or 

29 

 

(ii)  an appeal against the unexplained wealth order has been 

30 

upheld and finally disposed of. 

31 

11  Before subsection 45A(4) 

32 

Insert: 

33 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

6 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Court may make costs order if restraining order ceases 

12  Subsection 45A(4) 

Omit "or (2)", substitute ", (2) or (3A)". 

13  Section 179B (heading) 

Repeal the heading, substitute: 

179B  Making a preliminary unexplained wealth order requiring a 

person to appear 

14  Subsection 179B(1) 

Omit "may make an order", substitute "must make an order". 

15  Subsection 179B(2) 

10 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

11 

Effect of restraining orders 

12 

 

(1A)  Paragraphs (1)(b) and (c) do not apply if a 

*

restraining order made 

13 

under section 20A in relation to the person: 

14 

 

(a)  is in force; or 

15 

 

(b)  has been revoked under section 44. 

16 

 

(1B)  If subsection (1A) applies, the court may, in considering making an 

17 

order under subsection (1), take into account: 

18 

 

(a)  an affidavit of an 

*

authorised officer that: 

19 

 

(i)  supported the application for the 

*

restraining order made 

20 

under section 20A; and 

21 

 

(ii)  met the requirements of subsection 20A(3); and 

22 

 

(b)  any material that an authorised officer or 

*

proceeds of crime 

23 

authority provided, in the proceedings under section 20A, 

24 

relating to the requirements of subsection 20A(3); and 

25 

 

(c)  any other material that an authorised officer or proceeds of 

26 

crime authority provides in the proceedings under this 

27 

section. 

28 

This subsection does not limit the court's power to take other 

29 

material into account. 

30 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

7 

 

Affidavit requirements 

 

(2)  An application for an 

*

unexplained wealth order in relation to a 

person must be supported by an affidavit of an 

*

authorised officer 

that: 

 

(a)  states that the authorised officer suspects that the person's 

*

total wealth exceeds the value of the person's 

*

wealth that 

was 

*

lawfully acquired; and 

 

(b)  includes the grounds on which the authorised officer holds 

that suspicion. 

16  Before subsection 179B(3) 

10 

Insert: 

11 

Considering application without notice 

12 

17  At the end of section 179B 

13 

Add: 

14 

Refusal to make preliminary unexplained wealth order 

15 

 

(4)  Despite subsection (1), the court may refuse to make the 

16 

*

preliminary unexplained wealth order if the court is satisfied that 

17 

there are not reasonable grounds to suspect that the person's 

*

total 

18 

wealth exceeds by $100,000 or more the value of the person's 

19 

*

wealth that was 

*

lawfully acquired. 

20 

18  Subsection 179E(1) 

21 

Omit "may make an order", substitute "must make an order". 

22 

19  Subsection 179E(4) 

23 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

24 

 

(4)  To avoid doubt: 

25 

 

(a)  when considering whether to make an order under 

26 

subsection (1), the court may have regard to information not 

27 

included in the application; and 

28 

 

(b)  the court may make an order under subsection (1) in relation 

29 

to a person even if the person failed to appear as required by 

30 

the 

*

preliminary unexplained wealth order. 

31 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

8 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

20  Subsection 179E(6) 

Omit all the words after "may refuse to make an order under that 

subsection", substitute: 

 

  if the court is satisfied that: 

 

(a)  the person's 

*

unexplained wealth amount is less than 

$100,000; or 

 

(b)  it is not in the public interest to make the order. 

21  Paragraph 179N(2)(b) 

Repeal the paragraph, substitute: 

 

(b)  provide to the person a copy of the application for the 

10 

unexplained wealth order, and a copy of: 

11 

 

(i)  the affidavit referred to in subsection 179B(2); or 

12 

 

(ii)  if, because of subsection 179B(1A), there is no such 

13 

affidavit--the affidavit referred to in 

14 

paragraph 179B(1B)(a). 

15 

22  After subsection 179N(2) 

16 

Insert: 

17 

 

(2A)  The court may make an order extending the period during which 

18 

the things referred to in subsection (2) must be done, by a period 

19 

not exceeding 28 days, if: 

20 

 

(a)  the 

*

responsible authority applies for the order before the end 

21 

of the period (including that period as previously extended); 

22 

and 

23 

 

(b)  the court is satisfied that it is appropriate to do so. 

24 

 

(2B)  The period referred to in subsection (2) may be extended more than 

25 

once. 

26 

23  Subsection 179S(3) 

27 

Repeal the subsection, substitute: 

28 

 

(3)  The court may, on application by the 

*

responsible authority, make 

29 

*

restraining order under section 20A in respect of the property as 

30 

if: 

31 

 

(a)  the property were the 

*

person's property; and 

32 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

9 

 

 

(b)  the requirements in paragraphs 20A(1)(c) to (g) were 

satisfied. 

24  Section 179SA 

Repeal the section, substitute: 

179SA  Charge on property subject to restraining order 

 

(1)  If: 

 

(a)  an 

*

unexplained wealth order is made against a person; and 

 

(b)  the person is the 

*

suspect in relation to a 

*

restraining order 

that is or has been made against: 

 

(i)  the 

*

person's property; or 

10 

 

(ii)  another person's property in relation to which an order 

11 

under subsection 179S(1) is, or has been, made; 

12 

then, upon the making of the later of the orders, there is created, by 

13 

force of this section, a charge on the property to secure the 

14 

payment to the Commonwealth of the person's 

*

unexplained 

15 

wealth amount. 

16 

 

(2)  The charge ceases to have effect in respect of the property: 

17 

 

(a)  upon the discharge of the 

*

unexplained wealth order or the 

18 

*

restraining order by a court hearing an appeal against the 

19 

making of the order; or 

20 

 

(b)  upon payment to the Commonwealth of the 

*

unexplained 

21 

wealth amount in satisfaction of the unexplained wealth 

22 

order; or 

23 

 

(c)  upon the sale or other disposition of the property: 

24 

 

(i)  under an order under Division 4 of Part 4-1; or 

25 

 

(ii)  by the owner of the property with the consent of the 

26 

court that made the unexplained wealth order; or 

27 

 

(iii)  if the restraining order directed the 

*

Official Trustee to 

28 

take custody and control of the property--by the owner 

29 

of the property with the consent of the Official Trustee; 

30 

or 

31 

 

(d)  upon the sale of the property to a purchaser in good faith for 

32 

value who, at the time of purchase, has no notice of the 

33 

charge; or 

34 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

10 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(e)  upon the 

*

responsible authority for the unexplained wealth 

order or restraining order determining, by writing, that the 

charge should cease to have effect in respect of the property; 

whichever first occurs. 

 

(3)  The charge: 

 

(a)  is subject to every 

*

encumbrance on the property (other than 

an encumbrance in which the person referred to in 

paragraph (1)(a) has an 

*

interest) that came into existence 

before the charge and that would, apart from this subsection, 

have priority over the charge; and 

10 

 

(b)  has priority over all other encumbrances; and 

11 

 

(c)  subject to subsection (2), is not affected by any change of 

12 

ownership of the property. 

13 

 

(4)  Subsection 73(2) of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 

14 

applies to the charge (to the extent, if any, to which that Act 

15 

applies in relation to the property charged). 

16 

Note: 

The effect of this subsection is that the priority between the charge 

17 

and a security interest in the property to which the Personal Property 

18 

Securities Act 2009 applies is to be determined in accordance with this 

19 

Act rather than the Personal Property Securities Act 2009

20 

 

(5)  A determination made under paragraph (2)(e) is not a legislative 

21 

instrument. 

22 

179SB  Charges may be registered 

23 

 

(1)  If: 

24 

 

(a)  a charge is created by section 179SA on property of a 

25 

particular kind; and 

26 

 

(b)  the provisions of any law of the Commonwealth or of a State 

27 

or Territory provide for the registration of title to, or charges 

28 

over, property of that kind; 

29 

the 

*

Official Trustee or the 

*

responsible authority for the 

30 

*

unexplained wealth order or 

*

restraining order referred to in that 

31 

section may cause the charge so created to be registered under the 

32 

provisions of that law. 

33 

 

(2)  A person who purchases or otherwise acquires an 

*

interest in the 

34 

property after the registration of the charge is taken, for the 

35 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

11 

 

purposes of paragraph 179SA(2)(d), to have notice of the charge at 

the time of the purchase or acquisition. 

 

(3)  In this section: 

registration of a charge on a particular kind of personal property 

within the meaning of the Personal Property Securities Act 2009 

includes the registration of data in relation to that kind of property 

for the purposes of paragraph 148(c) of that Act. 

Note: 

The Personal Property Securities Act 2009 provides for the 

registration of such data only if regulations are made for the purposes 

of paragraph 148(c) of that Act. 

10 

25  Before subsection 179U(2) 

11 

Insert: 

12 

Appearing before the Committee 

13 

26  At the end of section 179U 

14 

Add: 

15 

Report about unexplained wealth investigations and proceedings 

16 

 

(3)  The Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police must give the 

17 

Committee a report in respect of each financial year that contains 

18 

the following information: 

19 

 

(a)  the number of matters investigated in the year, by each 

20 

*

enforcement agency, in respect of which a likely outcome 

21 

may, or will, be the initiation of proceedings under this Part, 

22 

and the basis for determining that number; 

23 

 

(b)  the number and results of applications in the year for: 

24 

 

(i) 

*

restraining orders under section 20A; and 

25 

 

(ii) 

*

unexplained wealth orders; 

26 

 

(c)  any other information of a kind prescribed by the regulations. 

27 

 

(4)  The report must be given as soon as practicable after the report 

28 

under section 67 of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 in 

29 

respect of the financial year is laid before a House of the 

30 

Parliament in accordance with that section. 

31 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

12 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

 

(5)  If the Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police requests the 

*

DPP or the Chief Executive Officer (however described) of an 

*

enforcement agency to give the Commissioner information that 

the Commissioner considers necessary to prepare the report, the 

DPP or Chief Executive Officer must comply with the request. 

27  After paragraph 227(1)(h) 

Insert: 

 

(ha)  that the warrant authorises the seizure of other things found 

at the premises in the course of the search that the executing 

officer or a person assisting believes on reasonable grounds 

10 

to be 

*

things relevant to unexplained wealth proceedings; and 

11 

28  After paragraph 228(1)(d) 

12 

Insert: 

13 

 

(da)  to seize other things found at the premises in the course of 

14 

the search that the executing officer or a person assisting 

15 

believes on reasonable grounds to be 

*

things relevant to 

16 

unexplained wealth proceedings; and 

17 

29  Subparagraph 256(1)(b)(ii) 

18 

Omit "and", substitute "or". 

19 

30  At the end of paragraph 256(1)(b) 

20 

Add: 

21 

 

(iii)  a 

*

thing relevant to unexplained wealth proceedings; 

22 

and 

23 

31  Subsection 266A(2) (after table item 2A) 

24 

Insert: 

25 

2B 

Authority of a State, or a 

*

self-governing Territory, that has a 

function under a 

*

corresponding law 

of the State or Territory 

Any one or more of the following 

purposes: 

(a) engaging in proceedings under 

that 

*

corresponding law; 

(b) engaging in proceedings for the 

forfeiture of things under a law 

of that State or Territory; 

(c) deciding whether to institute 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

13 

 

proceedings of a kind referred to 

in paragraph (a) or (b) 

2C 

Authority of a foreign country that 

has one or more of the following 

functions: 

(a) investigating or prosecuting 

offences against a law of the 

country; 

(b) identifying, locating, tracing, 

investigating or confiscating 

*

proceeds or 

*

instruments of 

crime under a law of the country 

Assisting in identification, location, 

tracing, investigation or confiscation 

of 

*

proceeds or 

*

instruments of 

crime, if the identification, location, 

tracing, investigation or confiscation 

could take place under this Act, or 

under a 

*

corresponding law of a 

State or a 

*

self-governing Territory, 

if the proceeds or instruments 

related to an offence against a law of 

the Commonwealth, State or 

Territory 

32  Subsection 304(2) 

Omit "42 to 45, 142 and 169", substitute "42 to 45A, 142, 169 and 

179SA". 

33  Section 338 

Insert: 

thing relevant to unexplained wealth proceedings means a thing 

(including a thing in electronic form) as to which there are 

reasonable grounds for suspecting that it may be relevant for the 

purposes of initiating or conducting proceedings under section 20A 

or Part 2-6. 

10 

34  Application of amendments 

11 

(1) 

Section 20A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as amended by this 

12 

Schedule, applies in relation to a restraining order applied for under that 

13 

section on or after the commencement of this item, whether the 

14 

application relates to: 

15 

 

(a)  property or wealth acquired before, on or after that 

16 

commencement; or 

17 

 

(b)  an offence suspected of having been committed before, on or 

18 

after that commencement. 

19 

Schedule 1  Unexplained wealth 

   

 

 

14 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

(2) 

Sections 45 and 45A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as amended by 

this Schedule, apply in relation to a restraining order made on or after 

the commencement of this item, whether the order relates to: 

 

(a)  property or wealth acquired before, on or after that 

commencement; or 

 

(b)  an offence suspected of having been committed before, on or 

after that commencement. 

(3) 

Sections 179B and 179E of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as 

amended by this Schedule, apply in relation to an unexplained wealth 

order applied for on or after the commencement of this item, whether 

10 

the application relates to wealth acquired before, on or after that 

11 

commencement. 

12 

(4) 

Section 179N of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as amended by this 

13 

Schedule, applies in relation to a preliminary unexplained wealth order 

14 

made on or after the commencement of this item, whether the relevant 

15 

application for an unexplained wealth order: 

16 

 

(a)  was made before, on or after that commencement; or 

17 

 

(b)  relates to wealth acquired before, on or after that 

18 

commencement. 

19 

(5) 

Section 179S of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as amended by this 

20 

Schedule, applies in relation to an unexplained wealth order made on or 

21 

after the commencement of this item: 

22 

 

(a)  whether the unexplained wealth order relates to wealth 

23 

acquired before, on or after that commencement; and 

24 

 

(b)  whether the property to which the order under 

25 

subsection 179S(1) relates becomes subject to the effective 

26 

control of the person subject to the unexplained wealth order 

27 

before, on or after that commencement. 

28 

(6) 

Despite the repeal of section 179SA of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 

29 

made by this Schedule, that section, as in force immediately before that 

30 

repeal, continues to apply in relation to an unexplained wealth order 

31 

made before the commencement of this item. 

32 

(7) 

Sections 179SA and 179SB of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as 

33 

substituted by this Schedule, apply in relation to an unexplained wealth 

34 

order made on or after the commencement of this item: 

35 

Unexplained wealth  Schedule 1 

   

 

 

No.      , 2014 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

15 

 

 

(a)  whether the unexplained wealth order relates to wealth 

acquired before, on or after that commencement; and 

 

(b)  whether the restraining order referred to in 

subsection 179SA(1) is made before, on or after that 

commencement. 

(8) 

Subsections 179U(3) to (5) of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as added 

by this Schedule, apply in relation to the financial year starting on or 

after the day on which this item commences, and future financial years. 

(9) 

Sections 227, 228 and 256 of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as 

amended by this Schedule, apply in relation to a search warrant that is 

10 

applied for under that Act on or after the commencement of this item, 

11 

whether the thing relevant to unexplained wealth proceedings relates to: 

12 

 

(a)  property or wealth acquired before, on or after that 

13 

commencement; or 

14 

 

(b)  an offence suspected of having been committed before, on or 

15 

after that commencement. 

16 

(10) 

Section 266A of the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002, as amended by this 

17 

Schedule, applies, on or after the commencement of this item, in 

18 

relation to information obtained before, on or after that commencement. 

19 

Schedule 2  Other amendments 

   

 

 

16 

Crimes Legislation Amendment (Unexplained Wealth and Other 

Measures) Bill 2014 

No.      , 2014 

 

Schedule 2

--

Other amendments 

   

Proceeds of Crime Act 2002 

1  Subparagraph 54(a)(i) 

Omit "

*

terrorism", substitute "

*

serious". 

2  Section 338 (subparagraph (b)(ii) of the definition of 

indictable offence of Commonwealth concern

Omit "paragraph 51(xx)", substitute "paragraph 51(v)". 

 


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