Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) Offences against this Act, other than an offence against subsection 7(1) or subsection 16(1), are punishable on summary conviction.
(2) Proceedings for:
(a) the commitment of a person for trial on indictment for an offence against this Act; or
(b) the summary prosecution of an offence against this Act;
shall be instituted only with the consent in writing of the Director of Public Prosecutions, or of a person, or of a person included in a class of persons, authorized by the Director of Public Prosecutions, by writing, to give such consents.
(3) Notwithstanding that a consent has not been given in relation to an offence in accordance with subsection ( 2):
(a) a person may be charged with an offence against this Act;
(b) a warrant for the arrest of a person for such an offence may be issued;
(c) a person may be arrested for such an offence; and
(d) a person charged with such an offence may be remanded in custody or on bail;
but no further step in proceedings of a kind referred to in that subsection shall be taken in relation to the offence until such a consent has been obtained.
(4) Nothing in subsection ( 2) prevents the discharge of the accused if proceedings are not continued within a reasonable time.