ATTACHMENT B

Statement of Compatibility with Human Rights

Prepared in accordance with Part 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011

Extradition (Czech Republic) Regulations 2023

2.                  This legislative instrument is compatible with the human rights and freedoms recognised or declared in the international instruments listed in section 3 of the Human Rights (Parliamentary Scrutiny) Act 2011.

Overview of the Legislative Instrument

3.                  Extradition is the process by which one country apprehends and sends a person to another country for the purposes of criminal prosecution, or for the imposition or service of a prison sentence. The Extradition Act 1988 provides the legislative basis for extradition in Australia. Under the Extradition Act, Australia can make an extradition request to any country, but can only receive an extradition request from a country that is an 'extradition country'.

4.                  The Extradition Act relevantly allows regulations to be made to declare a country to be an 'extradition country' for the purposes of the Extradition Act, and provides that the Extradition Act applies to an extradition country subject to the terms of a bilateral or multilateral treaty.

5.                   Australia currently has a non-treaty extradition relationship with the Czech Republic, as the Czech Republic is declared to be an 'extradition country' for the purposes of the Extradition Act under the Extradition (Czech Republic) Regulations 2007 (the 2007 Regulations). The 2007 Regulations enable Australia to consider extradition requests from the Czech Republic in accordance with the Extradition Act. The Regulations therefore do not have the practical effect of expanding Australia's extradition framework, noting that Australia can already consider extradition requests from the Czech Republic.

6.                  The Extradition (Czech Republic) Regulations 2023 (the Regulations) will give effect in Australian domestic law to Australia's obligations under the Treaty on Extradition between the Australia and the Czech Republic (the Treaty) signed at Canberra on 17 February 2022, by declaring the Czech Republic an 'extradition country' subject to the Treaty in accordance with paragraph 11(1)(a) of the Act. This has the effect of applying the Extradition Act to the Czech Republic subject to such limitations, conditions, exceptions or qualifications as are necessary to give effect to the Treaty. In the absence of an extradition treaty, the Czech Republic is not bound to accept a request from Australia, although it may do so. According to the Czech Republic, extradition requests from non-treaty countries are considered on a case-by-case basis and involve significant consultation across the Czech Republic's government. This is a lengthy process that may prevent the Czech Republic from being able to assist Australia, particularly in urgent circumstances.

7.                  The purpose of the Treaty is to provide a comprehensive framework under which Australia and the Czech Republic will be able to consider requests for extradition from each other more efficiently and effectively.

8.                  The Treaty also sets out additional safeguards that would ordinarily be considered as part of the Attorney-General's discretion under the Act; namely, where there are substantial grounds to believe that a person will be subjected to cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment, and where there may be discrimination on the basis of language, gender or ethnic origin. The Regulations would have the effect of ensuring these additional safeguards in the Treaty arise as express considerations as part of the Attorney-General’s decision making under the Act. 

9.                  The Treaty was the subject of a public hearing by the Joint Standing Committee on Treaties (JSCOT). In Report 209 tabled on 14 June 2023, JSCOT recommended that Australia take binding treaty action to implement the Treaty. The Regulations achieve this by declaring the Czech Republic to be an extradition country for the purposes of the Extradition Act and providing that the Extradition Act applies to the Czech Republic subject to the Treaty.

10.              The Regulations also repeal the 2007 Regulations upon commencement of the Treaty, although any extradition requests that the Czech Republic presents to Australia before the Treaty commences will remain subject to the 2007 Regulations. In accordance with Article 22 of the Treaty, the Treaty will apply to any extradition requests presented after its commencement even if the relevant acts or omissions relating to the offences for which the request is based occurred before the commencement of the Treaty.

Overview of the extradition process

11.              Australia's extradition process for incoming extradition requests from foreign countries (excluding New Zealand) generally comprises four stages under the Extradition Act:

1.      The Attorney-General may, in his or her discretion, issue a notice in relation to an extraditable person following receipt of a request from an extradition country (section 16). 

2.      If a notice is issued, an application may be made for a warrant for the arrest of the extraditable person (section 12). Following arrest, the person will be brought before a magistrate or eligible Judge who will remand the person (section 15).

3.      Following remand, the person can either waive (section 15A) or consent (section 18) to their extradition. If the person does not waive or consent, a magistrate or eligible Judge must determine whether the person is eligible for surrender (section 19).

4.      The Attorney-General must determine whether an extraditable person should be surrendered under either section 15B (if they have waived extradition in relation to one or more of the 'extradition offences') or section 22 (if they have consented to extradition or been found eligible under section 19).

Stage 1: Issue of a notice (section 16)

12.              Following receipt of a formal extradition request from an extradition country, the Attorney-General has discretion under section 16 of the Extradition Act to issue a notice stating that an extradition request has been received for a person for an extradition offence(s). 

13.              The Attorney-General must not issue a notice under section 16 unless the
Attorney-General is of the opinion that the person sought is an 'extraditable person' in relation to the extradition country. Pursuant to section 6 of the Extradition Act, a person is an 'extraditable person' where:

*         either:

o   a warrant is in force for the arrest of the person in relation to an offence or offences, or

o   the person has been convicted of an offence or offences, and the requesting country intends to sentence that person, or if they have been sentenced, the whole or part of their sentence remains to be served, and

*         the relevant offence, or any of the offences, is an 'extradition offence' in relation to the extradition country, and

*         the person is believed to be outside of the country making the extradition request.

14.              The decision to issue a notice under subsection 16(1) is subject to judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 and section 75(v) of the Constitution.

Stage 2: Arrest and remand (sections 12 and 15)

15.              With the exception of urgent matters (e.g. where the person may have been arrested pursuant to a provisional arrest request), once a notice has been issued, the Attorney-General's Department will apply for an extradition arrest warrant under subsection 12(1) of the Extradition Act.

16.              Pursuant to subsection 12(1) of the Extradition Act, a magistrate or eligible Judge will issue a warrant if satisfied, on the basis of information given by affidavit, that the person is an extraditable person in relation to the extradition country. Section 15 requires that a person be taken before a magistrate or eligible Judge as soon as practicable following their arrest and be remanded in custody or on bail. This decision is subject to judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903.

Stage 3: Eligibility hearing before a magistrate or eligible Judge (section 19)

17.              If a person does not elect to waive the extradition process under section 15A or consent to their surrender under section 18 of the Extradition Act, a magistrate or eligible Judge shall determine whether the person is eligible for surrender under section 19 of the Extradition Act. Pursuant to that section, a person is only eligible for surrender if:

• the necessary supporting documents (as set out in subsection 19(3)) are produced,
• where the regulations state that the Extradition Act applies subject to a limitation, condition, exception or qualification that requires the production of additional documentation, that the additional documentation is produced,
• the magistrate or eligible Judge is satisfied that the conduct would constitute an 'extradition offence' in both countries (known as 'dual criminality'), and
• the magistrate or eligible Judge is satisfied there are no substantial grounds for believing there is an 'extradition objection' in relation to the extradition offence.

18.              An 'extradition offence' is defined in section 5 of the Extradition Act to mean:

• in relation to a country other than Australia, an offence against a law of the country for which the maximum penalty is death or imprisonment, or other deprivation of liberty, for a period of not less than 12 months (or, if the offence does not carry a penalty under the law of the country, the conduct is required to be treated as an offence for which the surrender of persons is permitted by the country and Australia under a relevant extradition treaty), or
• in relation to Australia or part of Australia, an offence against a law of Australia, or law in force in the part of Australia, for which the maximum penalty is death or imprisonment, or other deprivation of liberty, for a period of not less than 12 months.

19.              An 'extradition objection' is defined in section 7 of the Extradition Act and arises where:

*         the extradition offence is a political offence in relation to the extradition country,

• the person is actually sought for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing the person on account of his or her race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or political opinions or for a political offence in relation to the extradition country,

• the person may be prejudiced at his or her trial, or punished, detained or restricted in his or her personal liberty, by reason of his or her race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or political opinions,  
• the conduct constituting the offence for which the person is sought constitutes a military offence in Australia, but not an ordinary criminal offence, or
• the person has been acquitted or pardoned by a competent tribunal or authority in the extradition country or Australia, or has undergone the punishment provided by the law of that country or Australia, in respect of the extradition offence or another offence constituted by the same conduct as constitutes the extradition offence (i.e. protection from double jeopardy).

20.              Pursuant to section 21 of the Extradition Act, either the person who is the subject of the extradition request or the extradition country may apply to the Federal Court of Australia for a review of the magistrate or eligible Judge's finding on eligibility. The Federal Court's decision may be further appealed to the Full Court of the Federal Court of Australia and the High Court of Australia.

21.              The person who is the subject of the extradition request may also seek judicial review of an eligibility decision under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903.

Stage 4: Attorney-General's surrender determination (section 15B or section 22)

22.              The fourth stage requires the Attorney-General to determine whether the person should be surrendered under either section 15B of the Extradition Act (if the person has waived the extradition process in relation to one or more extradition offences) or section 22 of the Extradition Act (if the person has consented to extradition or has been found eligible by a magistrate or eligible Judge under section 19).

23.              In accordance with the principles of procedural fairness, the person who is the subject of the extradition request is given an opportunity to make representations to the Attorney-General regarding any matters, human rights or otherwise, prior to the Attorney-General making a surrender determination under sections 15B or 22 of the Extradition Act. A person can seek a review of the Attorney-General's surrender determination under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 and section 75(v) of the Constitution.

24.              Subsection 22(3) of the Extradition Act provides that a person is only to be surrendered in relation to an extradition offence if:

• the Attorney-General is satisfied that there is no extradition objection (as set out above at paragraph 19) in relation to the relevant offence,
• the Attorney-General does not have substantial grounds for believing that, if the person were surrendered to the extradition country, the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture,
• where the offence is punishable by death, an undertaking is given by the extradition country to Australia that the person will not be tried for the offence, or if tried, the death penalty will not be imposed, or if imposed, will not be carried out,
• the extradition country has given a speciality assurance in relation to the person pursuant to subsection 22(4),
• where regulations made under section 11 of the Extradition Act give effect to a mandatory or discretionary limitation, condition, qualification or exception relating to surrender, the Attorney-General is satisfied that those circumstances do not exist (in the case of mandatory limitations, conditions, qualifications or exceptions), or if they exist (in the case of discretionary limitations, conditions, qualifications or exceptions), that the surrender of the person should nevertheless not be refused, and
• the Attorney-General, in his or her discretion, does not consider that the person should be surrendered.

25.              In relation to paragraph 22(3)(f), the Federal Court of Australia has held that this general discretion 'is unfettered, and the Minister may, in the exercise of the discretion, take into account any matters, or no matters, provided that the discretion is exercised in good faith and consistently with the objects, scope and purpose of the [Extradition] Act.'[1]

26.              Where a person elects to waive the extradition process, section 15B sets out that the Attorney-General may only surrender the person if:

*         the Attorney-General does not have substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture if surrendered to the extradition country, and

*         the Attorney-General is satisfied that there is no real risk that the death penalty would be carried out on the person in relation to any offence should they be surrendered to the extradition country.

27.              Section 11 of the Extradition Act allows regulations to be made that apply the Extradition Act to a specified extradition country subject to limitations, conditions, exceptions or qualifications as are necessary to give effect to a bilateral or multilateral extradition treaty in relation to the country. This provides a mechanism for giving effect to extradition treaties in Australia's domestic law. In this case, section 7 of the Regulations provides that the Extradition Act applies to the Czech Republic subject to the Treaty. This means that the Extradition Act applies to all extradition requests received from the Czech Republic, but may be modified where necessary for a limitation, condition, exception or qualification to apply to the terms of the Extradition Act in order to give effect to the Treaty. This would only operate in circumstances where the Extradition Act would apply in a manner that is inconsistent with the Treaty.[2]

Human rights implications

28.              The evolving nature of, and increased threats posed by, transnational crime requires Australia to have a robust and responsive extradition system that assists in effectively combating domestic and transnational crime, while providing appropriate safeguards. It is important to ensure that criminals cannot evade justice simply by crossing borders.

29.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations engage, or have the potential to engage, human rights and freedoms under the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights [1980] ATS 23 (ICCPR) and the Convention Against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment [1989] ATS 21 (CAT), namely:

*         the right to life (Article 6 of the ICCPR)

*         the prohibition against torture and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (Article 3 of the CAT and Article 7 of the ICCPR)

*         rights to freedom from arbitrary detention (Article 9 of the ICCPR)

*         rights regarding the expulsion of aliens (Article 13 of the ICCPR)

*         fair trial and fair hearing rights, and minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings (Article 14 of the ICCPR)

*         rights of equality and non-discrimination (Articles 2(1) and 26 of the ICCPR), and

*         the right to privacy (Article 17 of the ICCPR).

30.              The Extradition Act contains several human rights safeguards that the Attorney-General must take into account when determining whether to make a surrender determination (see above paragraphs 22-25), and that a magistrate or eligible Judge must take into account when determining a person's eligibility for surrender (see above paragraphs 17 and 19 on dual criminality and 'extradition objections'). Additionally, the Attorney-General's absolute discretion to refuse an extradition request under paragraph 22(3)(f) (see above paragraph 24) provides a further safeguard for the Attorney-General to take into account the specific circumstances of the extraditable person and other factors on a case-by-case basis. These safeguards will apply to all extradition requests made by the Czech Republic and are supplemented by additional safeguards in the Treaty, including mandatory grounds of refusal in Article 3, discretionary grounds of refusal in Article 5, as well as Article 20 which expressly preserves both Parties' obligations under other treaties to which they are both parties, including human rights treaties.

31.              Each of the human rights and freedoms that may be engaged by the Extradition Act and the Regulations, and specific safeguards for these rights, are discussed below.

The right to life

32.              Article 6 of the ICCPR provides that every human being has the inherent right to life and shall not be deprived of life arbitrarily. This Article requires State parties to protect this right by law.

33.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations have the potential to engage the right to life in circumstances where an extradition request relates to an offence which carries the death penalty under the law of the Requesting Party. In practical terms, this circumstance is highly unlikely to arise in extraditions between Australia and the Czech Republic as the Czech Republic has abolished the death penalty.

34.              Both the Extradition Act and the Treaty contain a number of safeguards that reflect, and are consistent with, the Australian Government's obligations under the ICCPR to protect the right to life as well as Australia's long-standing opposition to the death penalty. In particular, Article 3(e) of the Treaty contains a mandatory ground of refusal in circumstances where the offence for which extradition is requested carries the death penalty under the law of the Requesting Party, unless the Requesting Party provides assurances as the Requested State considered sufficient that the death penalty will not be imposed or, if imposed, will not be carried out. This provision is consistent with paragraph 22(3)(c) of the Extradition Act which provides that the Attorney-General is only able to make a surrender determination in circumstances where the offence is punishable by a penalty of death if an undertaking has been provided that either the person will not be tried for that offence; or if tried, the death penalty will not be imposed; or, if the death penalty is imposed, it will not be carried out.

35.              Paragraph 15B(3)(b) of the Extradition Act also provides a safeguard in circumstances where a person elects to waive the extradition process, by stipulating that the Attorney-General may only make a surrender determination where the Attorney-General is satisfied that there is no real risk that the death penalty will be carried out on the person in relation to any offence should they be surrendered to the extradition country.

36.              The use of death penalty undertakings is a well-established tool in international extradition. It is the Australian Government's long-standing experience that undertakings in relation to the death penalty in extradition cases have always been honoured. Undertakings are written government assurances and a breach of an undertaking would have serious consequences for both Australia's extradition relationship and broader bilateral relationship with the relevant foreign country.

37.              The Full Federal Court decision in McCrea v Minister for Justice and Customs^[3] sets out the test for an acceptable death penalty undertaking for the purposes of paragraph 22(3)(c). The test requires that the Attorney-General be satisfied that 'the undertaking is one that, in the context of the system of law and government of the country seeking surrender, has the character of an undertaking by virtue of which the penalty of death would not be carried out'.^[4] Therefore, if the Attorney-General must be satisfied in both form and substance that the undertaking provided means that the death penalty will not be carried out if the person were to be surrendered. Where an undertaking does not provide satisfaction in both form and substance, the requirements of paragraph 22(3)(c) of the Extradition Act would not be met and the Attorney-General must refuse the request.

38.              Breach of an undertaking may also have reputational consequences and negatively impact the relevant foreign country's law enforcement relationship with other countries. The Attorney-General would consider the reliability of any death penalty undertaking on a case by case basis.

39.              Given the public nature of extradition, the Australian Government would most likely be made aware of a breach of a death penalty undertaking. The Attorney-General's Department has provided information on extradition matters in its annual reports to Parliament since the establishment of the Extradition Act, including whether there have been any breaches of undertakings by a foreign country in relation to a person extradited from Australia. No significant breaches have been recorded to date.[5]

40.              Australia also monitors Australian citizens who have been extradited through its consular network, in accordance with the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations. Following recommendations made in JSCOT's 2018 Report 177, since 2018-19, the Attorney-General's Department also includes de-identified statistical information in its annual report in relation to Australian nationals extradited by Australia, including, where available:

*         whether a trial has taken place

*         where a trial has taken place, information on the verdict handed down

*         if a sentence was imposed, what the sentence was, and

*         the total number of extradited Australian nationals who are currently receiving consular assistance.

41.              The Attorney-General's Department annual report of 2022-23 indicated that four Australian citizens were extradited from Australia during 2022-23. Consular assistance was offered to all four and accepted by one. Proceedings have concluded in relation to two of these people, with one having been convicted and sentenced and one found not guilty, and the other two are awaiting trial. Of the Australian citizens extradited in previous financial years, proceedings have either been finalised or, in respect of one matter, information cannot be obtained in relation to the status of proceedings due to victim anonymity protections in the relevant foreign country.

42.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations do not limit, and are therefore consistent with, the right to life under the ICCPR.

Prohibition against torture, and other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment

43.              Article 3 of the CAT establishes non-refoulement obligations prohibiting States from returning a person to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture. In addition, Article 7 of the ICCPR provides that no one shall be subjected to torture or cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment (CIDTP). It is widely accepted that Article 7 of the ICCPR includes implied non-refoulement obligations in relation to torture and CIDTP. Freedom from torture and CIDTP is an absolute right, which cannot be limited or qualified under any circumstance.

44.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations have the potential to engage the prohibition against torture and CIDTP in circumstances where a person would be in danger of being subjected to torture or CIDTP if surrendered to the Requesting Party.

Torture

45.              Article 3 of the CAT prohibits the extradition of a person to a State where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture, and requires that decision-makers take into account all relevant considerations when determining whether there are such grounds. Article 7 of the ICCPR relevantly provides that no one shall be subjected to torture.

46.              Paragraphs 15B(3)(a) and 22(3)(b) of the Extradition Act provide that the Attorney-General may only surrender a person if (amongst other things) the Attorney-General does not have substantial grounds for believing that, if the person were surrendered, they would be in danger of being subjected to torture. Article 3(f) of the Treaty also contains a mandatory ground of refusal where the Requested Party has substantial grounds for believing that the person whose extradition is requested would be in danger of being subjected to torture if extradited. These requirements in the Extradition Act and the Treaty are consistent with Article 3 of the CAT and Article 7 of the ICCPR.

47.              Further, for the purposes of determining whether to surrender under section 15B or subsection 22(3) of the Extradition Act, the Attorney-General may consider all material reasonably available to assist in determining whether the person may be subjected to torture. This may include relevant international legal obligations, any representations or assurances from the requesting country, country-specific information, reports prepared by government or non-government sources, information provided through the diplomatic network and those matters raised by the person who is the subject of the extradition request. Therefore, the decision on whether to surrender a person is made by the Attorney-General on a case-by-case basis, in accordance with the safeguards in the Treaty and the Extradition Act which are in line with Australia's international obligations, including those in Article 3 of the CAT and Article 7 of the ICCPR.

CIDTP

48.              Australia also has non-refoulement obligations under Article 7 of the ICCPR in relation to CIDTP. Article 3(f) of the Treaty contains a mandatory ground of refusal where the Requested Party has substantial grounds for believing that the person whose extradition is requested would be in danger of being subjected to other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment if extradited. By virtue of paragraph 22(3)(e) of the Extradition Act, CIDTP would therefore operate as a mandatory ground of refusal that the Attorney-General must consider under subsection 22(3) of the Extradition Act in relation to extradition requests from the Czech Republic. The Extradition Act and the Treaty therefore provide protections for CIDTP in line with Article 7 of the ICCPR.

49.              Further, the person who is the subject of an extradition request may seek judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 and section 75(v) of the Constitution of the Attorney-General's surrender determination made under sections 15B and 22 of the Extradition Act.

50.              The Extradition Act and the Regulations do not limit the prohibition on torture and CIDTP, and are consistent with Australia's obligation not to return (refouler) a person to a country where there are substantial grounds for believing that the person would be in danger of being subjected to torture or CIDTP under Article 3 of the CAT and Article 7 of the ICCPR.

The rights to freedom from arbitrary detention

51.              Article 9(1) of the ICCPR protects the right to freedom from arbitrary detention and states that no one shall be deprived of their liberty except on such grounds and in accordance with such procedure as are established by law. Further, Article 9(4) of the ICCPR imposes an obligation on States to ensure that persons who are arrested and detained are entitled to take proceedings before a court to decide the lawfulness of their detention.

52.              The only permissible limitations on the rights to liberty are those provided for in Article 9 itself, namely that deprivations are permitted, but only 'in accordance with procedures as are established by law', provided that the law itself and the enforcement of it are not arbitrary.

53.              The presumption against bail for persons who are the subject of an incoming extradition request has the potential to engage the right to freedom from arbitrary detention.

54.              The test for whether detention is arbitrary under Article 9(1) of the ICCPR is whether, in all the circumstances, detention is reasonable, necessary and proportionate to the end that is sought.[6] Factors relevant to assessing whether detention is arbitrary include the existence of avenues of review on the appropriateness of detention, as well as whether less intrusive alternatives to detention have been considered.[7]

55.              Extradition detention is provided for under law in section 15 of the Extradition Act which requires the remand of a person, either in custody or on bail, following their arrest pursuant to an extradition request. Sections 15(2) and 15(6) of the Extradition Act provide for a person to be remanded on bail where there are 'special circumstances' justifying such a remand. Bail is also available as a statutory right at various stages of the extradition process, and the same 'special circumstances' test applies to the granting of bail at the stage of a consent hearing (subsection 18(2)), a surrender eligibility hearing (subsection 19(9)), the review of a surrender eligibility decision (subsections 21(2) and (6)) or during the review of a surrender determination (section 49C).

56.              Decisions on the granting of bail under the Extradition Act are decided on a case-by-case basis, in view of the individual's particular circumstances. The 'special circumstances' test has been interpreted by the High Court of Australia as comprising two stages.[8] First, the person seeking bail must establish that 'special circumstances' exist. In order to constitute 'special circumstances', the matters relied on need to be 'different from the circumstances that persons facing extradition would ordinarily endure.'[9] Second, the person must also establish that there is no real risk of flight. Where these two conditions are satisfied, there remains a general discretion for the magistrate or eligible Judge, or court to which a review application or appeal is made, to consider whether to grant bail based on the circumstances of the matter.[10] 

57.              To the extent that the test for bail, and by extension the Extradition Act and the Regulations giving effect to the Treaty, may limit the right to freedom from arbitrary detention, such limitation is aimed at a legitimate objective, being to:

*         achieve the purposes of Australia's extradition legislative and policy framework, namely to facilitate the apprehension and surrender of individuals for the purposes of criminal prosecution or to serve a prison sentence,

*         give effect to Australia's treaty obligations under international law and promote international comity between states, and

*         ensure that Australia is a reliable partner in international crime cooperation.

58.              There is a rational connection between any limitation on the right to freedom from arbitrary detention and the legitimate objective, and any limitation is reasonable, necessary and proportionate, as outlined below. 

59.              The limitation is reasonable as the requirement to remand a person in custody unless there are 'special circumstances' is provided for under law. The 'special circumstances' test is clearly defined in case law and is applied by decision-makers on a case-by-case basis, where the decision-maker is required to carefully consider whether the circumstances relied upon by a person, either individually or in combination, meet the test. Notwithstanding the nature of the 'special circumstances' test, bail is available as a statutory right at various stages of the extradition process[11] and applicants can and do successfully obtain bail in Australia during the extradition process.

60.              Factors arising in individual cases that have been held to amount to 'special circumstances' under the Extradition Act include:

*         extensive physical or mental health issues that could not properly be managed in custody,[12]

*         advanced age and health conditions,[13]

*         the need for critical, whole-of-family treatment in order to treat a childhood illness,[14]

*         specific skills requiring the person to be present at their workplace, family ties and guarantees of court attendance, and unlikelihood of receiving a custodial sentence for the alleged offences,[15] and

*         carer responsibility for a family member when no other person can fulfil the role in the circumstances and provide the required support.[16]

 

61.              The limitation is necessary as the 'special circumstances' test for bail upholds Australia's international obligations to secure the return of alleged offenders to face justice, given the serious flight risk posed in many extradition matters.

62.              The High Court of Australia has recognised that Australia has a 'very substantial' interest in surrendering persons subject to an extradition request in accordance with its treaty obligations, and has clarified that granting bail where a risk of flight exists may jeopardise both Australia's crime cooperation relationship with the requesting country and broader standing in the international community.[17] This differentiates extradition proceedings from Australian criminal prosecutions. Australia's extradition process is administrative in nature and the High Court has affirmed that extradition forms no part of the Australian criminal justice system.^[18]

63.              The limitation is also proportionate because the 'special circumstances' test for bail is applied by a magistrate or eligible Judge, or by the court to which a review application or appeal is made (as relevant), on a case-by-case basis according to merit. The case-by-case nature of these decisions, as well as the established review mechanisms, render any limitations on the rights reasonable, necessary and proportionate to the overall legitimate objective of facilitating the apprehension and surrender of individuals for the purposes of criminal prosecution or to serve a prison sentence in another country, upholding Australia's international legal obligations and ultimately combatting serious transnational crime.

64.              Article 9(4) of the ICCPR imposes an obligation on States to ensure that persons who are arrested and detained are entitled to take proceedings before a court to decide the lawfulness of their detention.  Any review of the lawfulness of detention must be real and not merely formal. Consistent with Article 9(4) of the ICCPR, a person may seek judicial review of a decision of a magistrate or eligible Judge to refuse bail under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903. There is also an ability to appeal any such judicial review decision. Further, persons held in extradition custody may also seek judicial review of the lawfulness of their detention at any time by applying for a writ of habeas corpus.

65.              While the extradition process, and therefore extradition custody, is not limited by set time periods, the Attorney-General is required to make surrender decisions under the Extradition Act as soon as reasonably practicable.[19] This enables the Attorney-General to appropriately consider all relevant information and properly afford procedural fairness throughout the process. The extradition process itself, or general remedies available in Australian law, presently allow for an individual to challenge the length of time taken at each stage of the extradition process. While proceedings are on foot to determine eligibility for surrender, or any review or appeal of such a finding, it is open to an individual, as a party to the proceedings, to raise an issue regarding the time taken for the matter to be resolved. In addition, it is also open to an individual awaiting a surrender determination to compel the making of that determination by seeking the issue of a writ of mandamus (where the person considers that it is 'reasonably practicable' for that decision to have been made). Finally, subject to any judicial review application that a person may initiate, the Extradition Act requires that an individual be surrendered to a foreign country within two months following the Attorney-General's surrender decision. Accordingly, there are existing mechanisms as part of the extradition process, or available at general law, to ensure that the extradition process progresses in a timely manner.

66.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations are therefore consistent with the right to freedom from arbitrary detention in Article 9 of the ICCPR. To the extent that the Extradition Act and the Regulations may limit these rights, any limitation is reasonable, necessary and proportionate to achieve the legitimate objectives of the Extradition Act and Australia's extradition regime. 

Expulsion of aliens

67.              Article 13 of the ICCPR provides that State Parties must observe certain procedural rights in the case of expulsion of non-citizens lawfully within the State's territory. Article 13 is applicable to all procedures intended for the obligatory departure of an alien lawfully in the territory of the State, whether described in domestic law as expulsion or otherwise.[20] Article 13 directly regulates the procedure of an expulsion, not the substantive grounds for expulsion.[21] Although extradition is an entirely distinct process from deportation, the term 'expulsion' in Article 13 is understood broadly, and may therefore apply to extradition procedures.

68.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations have the potential to engage this right where the person subject to an extradition request is a non-citizen lawfully within Australian territory.

69.              Article 13 provides that the decision to expel must be made in accordance in accordance with law, and that lawful non-citizens have the right to cases reviewed by competent authorities. All decisions on extradition in Australia are governed by the process provided for in the Extradition Act. The definition of an 'extraditable person' under section 6 of the Extradition Act does not make a distinction between Australian citizens and non-citizens. The process for decision-making, mechanisms for procedural fairness and process for review of decisions in Australia's extradition regime apply regardless of citizenship status.

70.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations do not limit, and are therefore consistent with, the provision on expulsion of aliens in the ICCPR.

Fair trial rights and minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings

71.              Article 14(1) of the ICCPR provides that all persons shall be equal before the courts and tribunals and, in the determination of criminal charges or in a suit at law, shall be entitled to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal established by law. Article 14 of the ICCPR also sets out a number of specific minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings including the prohibition against double jeopardy in Article 14(7). 

72.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations have the potential to engage fair trial rights and rights to minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings where a person is extradited in circumstances where there is a real risk of a denial of fair trial rights in the country to which the individual is to be extradited.  However, it is the Australian Government's view that Article 14 of the ICCPR does not extend to an obligation not to return a person to a country where they face a real risk of an unfair trial which could breach the obligations under Article 14. In other words, the Australian Government considers that Article 14 does not contain non-refoulement obligations and therefore is not engaged in the context of Australia potentially surrendering a person to another country under the Extradition Act.

73.              Nevertheless, there are a range of protections under the Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations which afford fair trial protections.

74.              Subsection 15B(2) and paragraph 22(3)(f) of the Extradition Act give the
Attorney-General a general discretion to refuse surrender, which enables the
Attorney-General to consider fair trial or other human rights concerns. This includes whether an extradited individual would have access to a fair trial or whether to surrender a person convicted in absentia (and whether a person tried in absentia will have an opportunity to be retried). Relevant considerations may also include the extent to which an individual would receive (or has received) appropriate procedural guarantees in a criminal trial (or re-trial) in the country to which he or she is being extradited. Similarly, Article 5(e) of the Treaty contains a discretionary ground of refusal where the person has been sentenced or would be liable to be tried or sentenced in the Requesting State by an extraordinary or ad hoc court or tribunal, which the Attorney-General must consider when making a surrender determination under paragraph 22(3)(e).

75.                 Article 5(c) of the Treaty also contains an express discretionary ground of refusal where the extradition of a person would, in all the circumstances of the case, be 'unjust, or oppressive' in the circumstances, including in light of the person's health, age or other personal circumstances. The words 'unjust or oppressive' have been considered in case law to refer to fair trial considerations,[22] and would therefore capture factors relating to the person's ability to secure a fair trial and be afforded minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings in the foreign country. By virtue of section 11 of the Extradition Act, this ground of refusal would arise for express consideration as part of the Attorney-General's surrender determination under paragraph 22(3)(e).

76.              Further, it is open to the Attorney-General to request assurances from the requesting country relating to the treatment and conditions applying to a person upon extradition where the Attorney-General has concerns regarding a person's ability to receive a fair trial and be afforded minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings. Assurances could include that the trial be conducted in person and be held in open court, that the person has access to legal representation, that the person has an opportunity to test the evidence against them or that the person will be imprisoned in particular jails. As a matter of procedural fairness, the
Attorney-General would also consider any information put to him by the individual subject to the extradition request, and any representations or assurances provided by the requesting country. The Attorney-General may also consider country-specific information, reports prepared by government or non-government sources and information provided through the diplomatic network.

77.              Section 7(e) of the Extradition Act also includes double jeopardy in the definition of an 'extradition objection'. This has the practical effect of preventing:

*         a finding by a magistrate or eligible Judge under section 19 that a person is eligible for surrender (pursuant to paragraph 19(2)(d)), or

*         the Attorney-General making a surrender determination under section 22 (pursuant to paragraph 22(3)(a)),

in circumstances where a person has been acquitted or pardoned by a competent tribunal or authority in the extradition country or Australia, or has undergone the punishment provided by the law of that country or Australia, in respect of the extradition offence or another offence constituted by the same conduct as constitutes the extradition offence.

78.              It is also open to the person who is the subject of an extradition request to seek review of a magistrate or eligible Judge's surrender eligibility decision under section 21 of the Extradition Act or seek judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 of administrative decisions at relevant stages of the extradition process, including a surrender determination by the Attorney-General.

79.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations do not limit, and operate consistently with, the fair trial rights and minimum guarantees in criminal proceedings provided under Article 14 of the ICCPR.

Extradition hearings in Australia: the 'no evidence' standard

80.              The guarantee to a fair and public hearing by a competent, independent and impartial tribunal under Article 14(1) of the ICCPR is not engaged in relation to extradition proceedings in Australia, including in relation to the evidentiary standard that magistrates and eligible Judges apply to determine surrender eligibility under section 19 of the Extradition Act. The United Nations Human Rights Committee has noted in its General Comment No. 32 that the right to a fair hearing by a court or tribunal does not apply to extradition proceedings (amongst other types of proceedings) as, in these circumstances, there is no determination of criminal charges nor presence of a suit at law.[23] This reflects the fact that extradition is not a criminal process or trial. Rather, it is an administrative process to determine whether a person is to be surrendered to face justice in the Requesting Party.

81.              Nonetheless, the United Nations Human Rights Committee has noted that other procedural guarantees may apply in these circumstances.[24] These include judicial review by an independent and impartial tribunal and, in these circumstances, guarantees of impartiality, fairness and equality as enshrined in the first sentence of Article 14(1) of the ICCPR.[25] 

82.              The availability of judicial review under section 39B of the Judiciary Act 1903 and section 75(v) of the Constitution at various stages of the extradition process satisfies this requirement. Further, the subject of an extradition request may seek statutory merits review of a magistrate or eligible Judge's surrender eligibility decision under section 21 of the Extradition Act.

83.              Extradition hearings in Australia are therefore compatible with the relevant procedural guarantees under Article 14(1) of the ICCPR.

84.               Further, the evidentiary standard adopted in section 19 of the Extradition Act, as reflected by the supporting documents which must be presented to a magistrate or eligible Judge during a surrender eligibility hearing, is consistent with the international approach adopted in the United Nations Model Treaty on Extradition. The term 'no evidence' does not mean 'no information'. Rather, as provided for in section 19 of the Extradition Act, it requires the request for extradition to be accompanied by a range of documents including a duly authenticated statement in writing setting out a description of, and the penalty applicable in respect of, the offence for which extradition is sought, and a duly authenticated statement in writing setting out the conduct constituting the offence, amongst other documents. If a person does not waive or consent to their extradition, a magistrate or eligible Judge will consider these documents under section 19 of the Extradition Act when determining whether the person is eligible for surrender (in addition to any evidence adduced by the person as to whether there is an 'extradition objection'). Evidence sufficient to prove each element of each alleged offence under the laws of the requested country (such as 'prima facie' evidence including witness statements and affidavits) is not required in relation to requests received by the Czech Republic. This reflects the overall nature of extradition proceedings as being administrative in nature, and being designed not to test evidence against the person, nor assess or determine guilt or innocence.[26]

The rights of equality and non-discrimination

85.              Article 2(1) of the ICCPR provides that State parties undertake to respect and to ensure to all individuals within its territory and subject to its jurisdiction the rights recognised in the ICCPR, without distinction of any kind, such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status. Article 26 of the ICCPR further provides that all persons are equal before the law and are entitled without any discrimination to the equal protection of the law. In this respect, a State party's law shall prohibit any discrimination and guarantee to all persons equal and effective protection against discrimination on any ground such as race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status.

86.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations have the potential to engage the rights of equality and non-discrimination in circumstances where an extradition request is made to Australia for the purposes of prosecuting or punishing a person on account of their race, colour, sex, language, religion, political or other opinion, national or social origin, property, birth or other status, or where a person may be prejudiced in the requesting country as a result of these personal attributes.

87.              The Extradition Act contains important safeguards to protect rights of equality and non-discrimination. Section 7 of the Extradition Act contains the definition of an 'extradition objection'. Relevantly, sections 7(b) and 7(c) set out that there is an extradition objection in relation to an extradition offence for which a person's surrender is sought if:

*         the person is actually sought for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing the person on account of his or her race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or political opinions; or

*         the person may be prejudiced at his or her trial, or punished, detained or restricted in his or her personal liberty, by reason of his or her race, sex, sexual orientation, religion, nationality or political opinions.

88.              The presence of an extradition objection, including on the grounds listed above, has the practical effect of preventing both a finding by a magistrate or eligible Judge that a person is eligible for surrender pursuant to paragraph 19(2)(d), and a surrender determination by the Attorney-General pursuant to paragraph 22(3)(a) in those circumstances.

89.              Article 3(b) of the Treaty also contains a mandatory ground of refusal where the Requested Party has substantial grounds for believing that the request for extradition has been made for the purpose of prosecuting or punishing the person sought on account of that person's race, language, ethnic origin, gender, religion, nationality, political opinion or other status, or that the person's position may be prejudiced for any of those reasons. Discrimination on the basis of these personal attributes will therefore constitute mandatory grounds of refusal that the Attorney-General must consider under paragraph 22(3)(e) of the Extradition Act, and will operate alongside the existing personal attributes listed in sections 7(b) and 7(c) of the Extradition Act. Together, the attributes listed in the Extradition Act and Treaty go beyond the personal attributes listed in the United Nations Model Extradition Treaty (which are limited to race, religion, ethnic origin, political opinions, sex or status).

90.              While sexual orientation is not expressly mentioned in Article 3(b) of the Treaty as a type of discrimination for which an extradition request shall be refused, section 7 of the Extradition Act expressly sets out that an extradition objection exists in circumstances where a request is made for the purposes of discriminating against a person on the basis of, inter alia, that person's sexual orientation. As outlined above, the presence of an extradition objection has the practical effect of preventing an eligibility finding under section 19 or a surrender determination under section 22. As this ground of refusal is included in the Extradition Act, Australia cannot extradite a person in these circumstances notwithstanding that this type of discrimination is not explicitly included as a ground of refusal in the Treaty.

91.              The term 'other status' in Article 3(b) of the Treaty also provides a broad safeguard, with 'other status' having been considered by the UN Human Rights Committee to include age, nationality, marital status, disability, place of residence within a country, and sexual orientation.[27]

92.              Additionally, Article 5(c) of the Treaty contains a discretionary ground of refusal where extradition would be unjust or oppressive in view of the circumstances of the case, including a person's health, age or other personal circumstances. This provision may cover issues that include additional personal attributes listed in the ICCPR such as disability, colour, language, property, birth or other status. These grounds could also be considered by the Attorney-General under the general discretion under paragraph 22(3)(f) of the Extradition Act, when considering whether to make a surrender determination. Any person subject to extradition has an opportunity to make representations to the Attorney-General regarding all of the personal attributes in Article 26 of the ICCPR before he or she makes a surrender determination, so that any such matters can be taken into consideration before reaching a decision.

93.              The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations do not limit, and are consistent with, the rights of equality and non-discrimination in Articles 2(1) and 26 of the ICCPR.

The right to privacy

94.              Article 17 of the ICCPR prohibits unlawful or arbitrary interferences with a person's privacy. Collecting, using, storing, disclosing or publishing personal information amounts to an interference with privacy. In order for the interference with privacy not to be 'unlawful', it must be provided by law. In order for the interference with privacy to not be 'arbitrary', it must be in accordance with the provisions, aims and objectives of the ICCPR and should be reasonable, necessary and proportionate in the particular circumstances.[28]

95.              The Regulations giving effect to the Treaty has the potential to engage the right to privacy. Article 7(1) of the Treaty provides that an extradition request must be in writing and be supported by details necessary to establish the identity and nationality of the person sought, including photographs and fingerprints. The collection, use or disclosure of this personal information may therefore interfere with the right to privacy. 

96.              However, the Regulations satisfy the requirement that any interference be lawful. They are also non-arbitrary, in that they are reasonable, necessary and proportionate to achieving the legitimate objective to give effect to the Treaty, which facilitates the apprehension and surrender of individuals for the purposes of criminal prosecution or to serve a prison sentence in another country. The collection, use or disclosure of personal information in these circumstances supports efforts to combat domestic and transnational crime and prevent Australia from becoming a safe haven for persons accused or convicted of serious crimes in other countries. The collection, use or disclosure of personal information is therefore a reasonable and necessary part of Australia's extradition regime.

97.              The Extradition Act provides safeguards to protect the confidentiality of the information shared during the extradition process, including in requests made under the Treaty. Section 54A of the Extradition Act explicitly provides that the collection, use or disclosure of personal information about an individual is taken to be authorised by the Extradition Act for the purposes of the Privacy Act 1988 if it is reasonably necessary for the purposes of the extradition of individuals to or from Australia, including making or considering whether to make, an extradition request.

98.              This safeguard ensures that a person's information will not be disseminated further than is necessary or for purposes beyond those intended to be achieved under the Extradition Act. Therefore, any limitations under the Extradition Act or the Regulations on the right to privacy in Article 17 of the ICCPR are necessary to achieve the legitimate objective to facilitate the apprehension and surrender of individuals for the purposes of criminal prosecution or serving a sentence, and ultimately combat serious transnational crime. The safeguards in the Extradition Act to ensure confidentiality of personal information render any limitations on the right to privacy proportionate to this overall objective.

99.              Therefore, the Extradition Act and the Regulations are consistent with the right to privacy in Article 17 of the ICCPR. To the extent that the Extradition Act and the Regulations may limit this right, any limitation is reasonable, necessary and proportionate to achieve the legitimate objectives of the Extradition Act and Australia's extradition regime. 

Conclusion

100.          The Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations are compatible with the human rights and freedoms outlined above. Although the Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations engage with, and may operate to limit, some human rights and freedoms, the protections and safeguards in the Extradition Act and the Treaty given effect by the Regulations ensure that any such limitations are reasonable, necessary and proportionate to achieving the legitimate objective of facilitating the apprehension and surrender of individuals for the purposes of criminal prosecution or to serve a prison sentence in another country, and ultimately combatting serious crime.