Victorian Current Acts

CONFISCATION ACT 1997

TABLE OF PROVISIONS

   PART 1--PRELIMINARY

   1.      Purposes  
   2.      Commencement  
   3.      Definitions  
   3A.     Objects  
   4.      Meaning of conviction  
   5.      Meaning of absconds  
   6.      Meaning of setting aside a conviction  
   7.      Meaning of charged with an offence  
   7A.     Meaning of derived property—civil forfeiture  
   7B.     Meaning of derived property—other cases  
   7C.     Meaning of serious criminal activity  
   8.      Related offences  
   9.      Effective control of property  
   10.     Property in which the accused has an interest  
   11.     Meaning of dealing with property  
   12.     Jurisdiction  
   13.     Act to bind Crown  

   PART 2--RESTRAINING ORDERS OTHER THAN CIVIL FORFEITURE RESTRAINING ORDERS AND UNEXPLAINED WEALTH RESTRAINING ORDERS

   14.     Restraining orders  
   15.     Purposes for which a restraining order may be made  
   15A.    Property may be subject to both restraining order and other orders  
   16.     Application for restraining order  
   17.     Procedure on application  
   18.     Determination of application  
   19.     Notice of restraining order to be given to persons affected  
   19A.    Notice requiring declaration of property interests  
   19B.    What must be included in a declaration of property interests?  
   19C.    Offences  
   19D.    Court directions to provide information  
   19E.    Admissibility of statement  
   20.     Application for exclusion from restraining order  
   21.     Determination of exclusion application—restraining order—Schedule 1 offence  
   22.     Determination of exclusion application—restraining order in relation to Schedule 2 offence  
   22A.    Determination of exclusion application—serious drug offence restraining order  
   23.     Declaration that restraining order shall be disregarded for purposes of automatic forfeiture  
   24.     Protected property not to be included in serious drug offence restraining order  
   26.     Further orders  
   27.     Duration and setting aside of restraining order  
   27A.    Property subject to multiple restraining orders  
   28.     Registration of restraining order  
   28A.    No mortgage, charge or encumbrance to be registered on land subject to restraining order  
   29.     Contravention of restraining order  
   30.     Priority given to payment of restitution or compensation  
   31.     State to pay restitution and compensation out of forfeited property etc.  

   PART 2A--FREEZING ORDERS

   31A.    Definition  
   31B.    Chief Commissioner of Police may authorise police to apply for freezing orders  
   31C.    Freezing order  
   31D.    Application for freezing order  
   31E.    Application may be made by telephone or other electronic communication  
   31F.    Making of freezing order  
   31G.    Notice of freezing order  
   31H.    When does a freezing order take effect?  
   31I.    Extension of freezing orders  
   31J.    Report to Magistrates' Court on freezing order  
   31K.    Failure to comply with freezing order  
   31L.    Offence to disclose existence of freezing order  
   31M.    Freezing order to be disregarded for certain purposes  

   PART 3--FORFEITURE OF PROPERTY

           Division 1--Forfeiture on court order

   32.     Application for forfeiture order  
   33.     Determination of application for forfeiture order  
   34.     Consent orders  

           Division 1A--Tainted property substitution declaration--forfeiture order

   34A.    Interpretation  
   34B.    Application for tainted property substitution declaration  
   34C.    Court may make tainted property substitution declaration  

           Division 2--Automatic forfeiture after conviction

   35.     Automatic forfeiture of restrained property on conviction of certain offences  
   35A.    Schedule 2 offences—application for court declaration  
   35B.    Applicant to notify accused  
   35C.    Court may make declaration  
   36.     Declaration that property has been forfeited  

           Division 3--Tainted property substitution declaration--automatic forfeiture

   36A.    Interpretation  
   36B.    Application for tainted property substitution declaration  
   36C.    Notice of application  
   36D.    Right to appear and give evidence  
   36E.    Hearing of application  
   36F.    Determination of application  
   36G.    Deemed withdrawal of application  

           Division 4--Automatic forfeiture of property of serious drug offender

   36GA.   Automatic forfeiture of restrained property on declaration that person is serious drug offender  
   36GB.   Declaration that property has been forfeited  

   PART 4--CIVIL FORFEITURE REGIME

           Division 1--Civil forfeiture restraining orders

   36H.    Civil forfeiture restraining orders  
   36I.    Purpose for which a civil forfeiture restraining order may be made  
   36J.    Property may be subject to both civil forfeiture restraining order and other orders  
   36K.    Application for civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36L.    Procedure on application for civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36M.    Determination of application for civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36N.    Notice of civil forfeiture restraining order to be given to persons affected  
   36O.    Notice requiring declaration of property interests  
   36P.    What must be included in a declaration of property interests?  
   36R.    Offences  
   36S.    Court directions to provide information  
   36T.    Admissibility of statement  
   36U.    Application for exclusion from civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36V.    Determination of application for exclusion from civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36W.    Further orders  
   36X.    Duration and setting aside of civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36Y.    Registration of civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36Z.    Contravention of civil forfeiture restraining order  
   36ZA.   Priority given to payment of restitution or compensation  
   36ZB.   State to pay restitution and compensation out of forfeited property etc.  

           Division 2--Civil forfeiture orders

   37.     Application for civil forfeiture order  
   38.     Determination of application for civil forfeiture order  
   39.     Consent orders  
   40.     Forfeiture of property that may be used as evidence in trial  

           Division 3--Orders for exclusion from civil forfeiture orders

   40A.    Application for exclusion from civil forfeiture order  
   40B.    Determination of application for exclusion from civil forfeiture order  

   PART 4A--UNEXPLAINED WEALTH

           Division 1--Unexplained wealth restraining orders

   40C.    Unexplained wealth restraining orders  
   40D.    Purpose for which an unexplained wealth restraining order may be made  
   40E.    Property may be subject to both unexplained wealth restraining order and other orders  
   40F.    Application for unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40G.    Property lawfully acquired  
   40H.    Procedure on application for unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40I.    Determination of application for unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40J.    Notice of unexplained wealth restraining order to be given to persons affected  
   40K.    Notice requiring declaration of interests in restrained property  
   40L.    What must be included in a declaration of interests in restrained property?  
   40M.    Notice to person suspected of engaging in serious criminal activity  
   40N.    What must be included in a declaration by an owner of property?  
   40O.    Offences  
   40P.    Court directions to provide information  
   40Q.    Admissibility of statement  
   40R.    Application for exclusion from unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40S.    Determination of application for exclusion from unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40T.    Evidentiary requirements for exclusion order  
   40U.    Application for substitution order  
   40V.    Determination of application for substitution order  
   40W.    Further orders  
   40X.    Setting aside of unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40Y.    Registration of unexplained wealth restraining order  
   40Z.    Contravention of unexplained wealth restraining order  

           Division 2--Forfeiture of unexplained wealth

   40ZA.   Forfeiture of unexplained wealth  
   40ZB.   Declaration that property has been forfeited  
   40ZC.   Application for exclusion from unexplained wealth forfeiture  
   40ZD.   Determination of application for exclusion from unexplained wealth forfeiture  

   PART 5--EFFECT OF FORFEITURE

   41.     Effect of forfeiture  
   42.     Power to discharge mortgage or charge  
   43.     Court may give directions  
   44.     Disposal of forfeited property  
   44A.    Certificate of disposal  
   45.     Relief from undue hardship  
   45A.    Relief from automatic forfeiture of property of serious drug offender  
   45B.    Relief from unexplained wealth forfeiture  
   46.     Discharge of forfeiture order  
   47.     Discharge of automatic forfeiture in respect of an interest  
   48.     Discharge of civil forfeiture order  
   48A.    Discharge of unexplained wealth forfeiture in respect of an interest  

   PART 6--EXCLUSION ORDERS

   49.     Application for exclusion from forfeiture order  
   50.     Determination of exclusion application—forfeiture order  
   51.     Application for exclusion from automatic forfeiture  
   52.     Determination of exclusion application—automatic forfeiture  
   53.     Application for exclusion from automatic forfeiture of property of serious drug offender  
   54.     Determination of application from exclusion from automatic forfeiture of property of serious drug offender  

   PART 7--RETURN OF PROPERTY

   55.     Application to Minister for return of property or payment of value  
   56.     Person with interest in forfeited property may buy back interest  
   57.     Buying out other interests in forfeited property  

   PART 8--PECUNIARY PENALTY ORDERS

           Division 1--Pecuniary penalty orders following conviction

   58.     Application for pecuniary penalty order  
   59.     Determination of application for pecuniary penalty order  
   60.     Consent orders  
   61.     Pecuniary penalty order does not prevent forfeiture  
   62.     Discharge of pecuniary penalty order  

           Division 3--General

   67.     Assessment of benefits  
   68.     Assessment of benefits in relation to Schedule 2 offences  
   69.     Variation of pecuniary penalty order after successful appeal against restitution or compensation order  
   69A.    Variation of pecuniary penalty order after subsequent forfeiture  
   70.     Declaration that property available to satisfy order  
   71.     Court may give directions  
   72.     Charge on property subject to restraining order or declaration  
   73.     Disposal of property obtained to satisfy pecuniary penalty order  
   73A.    Notice of intention to sell charged land  
   73B.    Power of sale  
   73C.    Sale to be treated as sale by mortgagee  
   73D.    Powers of Registrar of Titles  
   74.     Pecuniary penalty order debt due to Crown  

   PART 9--POWERS OF TRUSTEE

   75.     Liability under forfeiture or pecuniary penalty order to be satisfied by trustee  
   76.     Provisions concerning the trustee  

   PART 10--DISPOSAL ORDERS

   77.     Application for disposal order  
   78.     Disposal orders  

   PART 10A--PROPERTY MANAGEMENT

   78A.    Memorandum of understanding  
   78B.    Certificate of responsibility and power  

   PART 11--SEARCH WARRANTS

   79.     Search warrants  
   79A.    Seizure warrants—public places  
   80.     Application for warrant  
   80A.    Warrant may authorise the giving of a direction requiring assistance from person with certain knowledge  
   80B.    Power to require assistance from person with certain knowledge  
   80C.    Offence to fail to comply with order requiring assistance  
   81.     Warrant may be granted by telephone  
   82.     Record of proceedings for warrant  
   83.     Notice to occupier of premises entered under search warrant  
   84.     Duty to show search warrant  
   84A.    Duty to show seizure warrant  
   85.     Use of force  
   86.     Use of assistants to execute warrant  
   87.     Application of Magistrates' Court Act 1989  
   88.     Expiry of warrant  
   88A.    Notice of execution of seizure warrant  
   89.     Report on execution of warrant etc.  
   90.     Absence etc. of magistrate or judge who issued warrant  
   91.     Defects in warrants  
   92.     Seizure of property under search warrant  
   92A.    Seizure of digital asset under search warrant  
   93.     Embargo notice  
   94.     Search of persons under search warrant  
   95.     Obstruction or hindrance of person executing search warrant  
   95A.    Application for property seized under search warrants under other Acts to be held or retained under this Act  
   95B.    What must be in the application?  
   95C.    Court may make declaration  
   95D.    Notice of declaration  
   95E.    Effect of declaration  
   96.     Disposal of livestock or perishable property  
   97.     Return of seized property  

   PART 11A--PROPERTY MANAGEMENT WARRANTS

           Division 1--Search and inspection warrants

   97A.    Application for search and inspection warrant  
   97B.    Search and inspection warrant  
   97C.    Record of proceedings for search and inspection warrant  
   97D.    Announcement before entry  
   97E.    Copy of search and inspection warrant to be given to occupier  
   97F.    Use of assistants to execute search and inspection warrant  
   97G.    Application of Magistrates' Court Act 1989  
   97H.    Expiry of search and inspection warrant  
   97I.    Report on execution of warrant etc.  
   97J.    Copy of inventory to be given  
   97K.    Defects in search and inspection warrant  
   97L.    Obstruction or hindrance of person executing search and inspection warrant  

           Division 2--Search and seizure warrants

   97M.    Application for search and seizure warrant  
   97N.    Search and seizure warrant  
   97O.    Record of proceedings for search and seizure warrant  
   97P.    Announcement before entry  
   97Q.    Copy of search and seizure warrant to be given to occupier  
   97R.    Use of assistants to execute search and seizure warrant  
   97S.    Application of Magistrates' Court Act 1989  
   97T.    Expiry of search and seizure warrant  
   97U.    Report on execution of search and seizure warrant etc.  
   97V.    Defects in search and seizure warrant  
   97W.    Obstruction or hindrance of person executing search and seizure warrant  

   PART 12--EXAMINATION ORDERS

   98.     Order for examination  
   98A.    Examination notice  
   99.     Examination  

   PART 13--INFORMATION GATHERING POWERS

           Division 1--Production orders

   99A.    Definition  
   100.    Application for production order  
   100A.   Application for production order—unexplained wealth  
   101.    Production orders  
   102.    Powers under production orders  
   103.    Expiry of production order  
   104.    Report on execution of production order etc.  
   105.    Absence etc. of magistrate or judge who made production order  
   106.    Effect of production orders on proceedings etc.  
   107.    Variation of production orders  
   108.    Failure to comply with production order  

           Division 2--Search powers

   109.    Application for search warrant for property-tracking documents  
   110.    Search warrants  
   111.    Expiry of warrant  
   112.    Application of Magistrates' Court Act 1989  
   113.    Authority conferred by search warrant  
   114.    Search for documents with consent  

           Division 3--Monitoring orders

   115.    Application for monitoring order  
   116.    Monitoring orders  
   117.    Failure to comply with monitoring order  
   118.    Existence and operation of monitoring order not to be disclosed  

           Division 3A--Information notices

   118A.   Definition  
   118B.   Chief Commissioner of Police may authorise police to issue information notices  
   118C.   Who can issue information notices?  
   118D.   Issuing information notices—authorised police officer  
   118E.   Issuing information notices—prescribed person  
   118F.   Information notice to be signed and reasons recorded  
   118G.   What can an information notice require?  
   118H.   What must the information notice contain?  
   118I.   How is an information notice given?  
   118J.   Offence to fail to comply with information notice  
   118K.   Offence to disclose existence of information notice  
   118L.   Immunity from suit  
   118M.   Giving of information notice to be disregarded for certain purposes  

           Division 3B--Credit information

   118N.   Access to and use of information held by credit reporting bodies  

           Division 4--Reports of suspect transactions

   119.    Reports of suspect transactions  

           Division 4A--Sharing of information

   119A.   Communication of information between law enforcement agencies  

           Division 5--Interstate offences

   120.    Ministerial arrangements for transmission of documents or information  

           Division 6--Document requests

   120A.   Document request relating to maintenance and management of property  
   120AB.  Document request relating to enforcement of pecuniary penalty order  
   120B.   Document request  
   120C.   Offences  
   120CA.  Offence to disclose existence of document request  
   120D.   Requested documents to be provided—Court order  
   120E.   Return of documents  

   PART 15--INTERSTATE ORDERS AND WARRANTS

   124.    Definition  
   125.    Registration of interstate orders  
   126.    Effect of registration  
   127.    Duration of registration  
   128.    Cancellation of registration  
   129.    Charge on property subject to registered interstate restraining order  
   130.    Trustee may act as agent  
   131.    Interstate orders and search warrants  

   PART 16--MISCELLANEOUS

   132.    Standard of proof  
   133.    Nature of proceedings  
   133A.   Costs  
   134.    Crime Prevention and Victims' Aid Fund  
   134A.   Payment of money realised into Consolidated Fund  
   134B.   Payment to other jurisdictions under equitable sharing program  
   135.    Conversion costs  
   136.    Stamp duty not payable  
   137.    Service of documents  
   138.    Maximum fine for body corporate  
   139.    Law enforcement agency to provide information to Minister  
   139A.   Reports to the Minister  
   140.    Secrecy  
   141.    Court may hear applications at same time  
   141A.   Arrangements to avoid operation of Act  
   142.    Appeals  
   143.    Provision of legal aid  
   143A.   Delegation  
   144.    Operation of other laws not affected  
   144A.   Validation  
   145.    Supreme Court—limitation of jurisdiction  
   146.    Regulations  
   147.     Rules of court  

   PART 18--CONSEQUENTIAL AMENDMENTS AND TRANSITIONAL PROVISIONS

   157.    Transitional provisions—Enactment of Confiscation Act 1997  
   158.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—definition of tainted property transitional provision  
   159.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—declaration of property interests transitional provision  
   160.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—freezing orders transitional provision  
   161.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—tainted property substitution declaration transitional provisions  
   162.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—disposal orders transitional provision  
   163.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—property seized under other Acts transitional provision  
   164.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—examination orders transitional provision  
   165.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—document requests transitional provisions  
   166.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 1 offences transitional provisions  
   167.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 2—drug trafficking offences transitional provisions  
   168.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 2 offences transitional provisions  
   169.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 2—money laundering transitional provisions  
   170.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 2—attempts transitional provisions  
   171.    Confiscation (Amendment) Act 2003—Schedule 2—common law offences transitional provisions  
   172.    Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984  
   173.    Transitional—Crimes (Money Laundering) Act 2003  
   174.    Transitional—Major Crime Legislation (Seizure of Assets) Act 2004  
   175.    Transitional—Justice Legislation (Further Amendment) Act 2006  
   176.    Validation of certain exclusion orders—Confiscation Amendment Act 2007  
   177.    Existing applications for exclusion orders—Confiscation Amendment Act 2007  
   178.    Sufficient consideration—Confiscation Amendment Act 2007  
   179.    Transitional—Confiscation Amendment Act 2010  
   180.    Regulations dealing with transitional matters  
   181.    Confiscation Amendment Act 2010—proceedings for civil forfeiture generally  
   182.    Confiscation Amendment Act 2010—tainted property and derived property  
   183.    Confiscation Amendment Act 2010—freezing orders  
   184.    Transitional provisions for Confiscation Amendment Act 2010 do not derogate from Interpretation of Legislation Act 1984  
   185.    Sex Work and Other Acts Amendment Act 2011—Schedule 1 offences transitional provision  
   186.    Sex Work and Other Acts Amendment Act 2011—Schedule 2 offences transitional provision  
   187.    Transitional—Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011  
   188.    Transitional—Criminal Organisations Control and Other Acts Amendment Act 2014  
   189.    Transitional—Justice Legislation Amendment (Confiscation and Other Matters) Act 2014  
   190.    Transitional—Confiscation and Other Matters Amendment Act 2016  
   191.    Transitional provision—Crimes Amendment (Sexual Offences) Act 2016  
   192.    Transitional—Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Act 2019  
   193.    Further transitional—Justice Legislation Amendment (Police and Other Matters) Act 2019  
   194.    Transitional provision—Major Crime and Community Safety Legislation Amendment Act 2022  
           SCHEDULE 1
           SCHEDULE 2
           ENDNOTES