5. Commonwealth Child Sexual Offences¶
Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Divs 272, 273, 273A, 471 (Subdiv B–C), 474 (Subdiv D & F); Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 3. Maximum penalties verified against the current Criminal Code (Cth) compilation (AustLII), most reflecting increases by the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Act 2020 (No 70 of 2020), eff 23 June 2020. Fault: default intention for conduct (s 5.6(1)), default recklessness for circumstance/result (s 5.6(2)).
"abs liab" = absolute liability (no fault; s 9.2 mistake of fact unavailable).
"Cth CSO" = Commonwealth child sex offence (s 3 Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)).
"CAM" = child abuse material (s 473.1).
All are a "sexual offence" under s 4 Criminal Procedure Act 2009 (Vic), engaging the Jury Directions Act 2015 (Vic) when tried in Victoria.
CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) = Commonwealth Indictable Offence Triable Summarily requires CDPP agreement to remain in MCV.
Division 272 — Child sex offences outside Australia¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 272.8(1)–(2) | Sexual intercourse with a child outside Australia | (1) intentionally engages in sexual intercourse (s 5.6(1)); (2) other person a child — reckless as to age (s 5.6(2)); (3) conduct outside Australia (geog juris Pt 2.7). | Max 25 yrs — Cth CSO SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(i)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.9(1)–(2) | Sexual activity (other than intercourse) with a child outside Australia | (1) intentional sexual activity (s 5.6(1)); (2) child — reckless as to age (s 5.6(2)); (3) outside Australia (Pt 2.7). | Max 20 yrs — Cth CSO SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(ii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.10(1) | Aggravated offence — sexual intercourse / activity with a child outside Australia | (1)–(3) as s 272.8 / 272.9; (4) circumstances of aggravation per s 272.10(1) (e.g. mental impairment, trust/authority, cruel treatment, death). | Max life — Cth CSO; excluded from "Cth child sexual abuse offence" def (s 3 Crimes Act 1914) SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(iii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.11(1) | Persistent sexual abuse of a child outside Australia | (1) underlying s 272.8/272.9 offence on 2+ separate occasions; (2) child — reckless as to age (s 5.6(2)); (3) outside Australia. | Max 30 yrs — Cth CSO; mandatory min 7 yrs (s 16AAA); excl from "child sexual abuse offence" def SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(iv)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.12(1)–(2) | Sexual intercourse with a young person (16–17) outside Australia by person in position of trust/authority | (1) intentional sexual intercourse; (2) young person — reckless as to age; (3) accused in position of trust/authority — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (4) outside Australia. | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) Max 10 yrs — Cth CSO SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(v)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.13(1)–(2) | Sexual activity (other than intercourse) with a young person outside Australia by person in position of trust/authority | (1) intentional sexual activity; (2) young person — reckless as to age; (3) accused in position of trust/authority — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (4) outside Australia. | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) Max 7 yrs — Cth CSO / Class 1 (SORA, per source) SORA: Class 1 (Sch 1 Item 8A(vi)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.14(1) | Procuring a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia | (1) intentionally procures (incl encourage/entice/recruit/induce); (2) child — reckless as to age (s 5.6(2)); (3) sexual activity to occur outside Australia. | Max 15 yrs — Cth CSO; age-belief defence s 272.16 SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.15(1) | Grooming a child to engage in sexual activity outside Australia | (1) intentional grooming conduct; (2) child — reckless as to age (s 5.6(2)); (3) with intent to facilitate / engage in sexual activity with the child outside Australia. | Max 15 yrs — Cth CSO; age-belief defence s 272.16 SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(i)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.15A | Grooming a third party to make it easier to procure a child for sexual activity outside Australia | (1) conduct toward a third party (intention); (2) intent to make it easier to procure a child for sexual activity outside Australia (s 5.2); (3) child under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab on actual-age (s 272.15A(2)); (4) jurisdictional nexus — abs liab. | Max 15 yrs — Cth CSO; defences ss 272.16, 272.17 SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(ii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.18(1) | Benefiting from an offence against Division 272 | (1) conduct (intention); (2) intent to benefit from a Div 272 offence (s 5.2 — financial / actual offence not required, s 272.18(2)); (3) conduct reasonably capable of resulting in benefit — abs liab (s 272.18(3)). | Max 25 yrs — within/outside Australia; ss 272.16/272.17 defences do NOT apply SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(iii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.19(1) | Encouraging an offence against Division 272 | (1) conduct (intention); (2) intent to encourage a Div 272 offence other than s 272.19/272.20 ("encourage" s 272.19(4)); (3) conduct reasonably capable of encouraging — abs liab (s 272.19(3)). | Max 25 yrs — within/outside Australia; conspiracy (s 11.5) excluded SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(iv)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 272.20(1)–(2) | Preparing for or planning an offence against Division 272 (two discrete offences) | (1) does an act (intention); (2) intent to prepare for / plan a referred Div 272 offence (s 5.2). Sub-(1): targets ss 272.8/272.9/272.10/272.11/272.18. Sub-(2): targets ss 272.12/272.13. | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) (1) Max 10 yrs; (2) Max 5 yrs — within/outside Australia (s 272.20(3)) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(v)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 60); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Division 273 — Offences involving child abuse material outside Australia¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 273.6(1) | Possessing, controlling, producing, distributing or obtaining child abuse material outside Australia | (1) conduct — possess/control/produce/distribute/obtain/facilitate (intention; extended defs s 273.1(2)–(3)); (2) material is CAM (s 473.1) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) outside Australia — abs liab (s 273.6(2)). | Max 15 yrs — jurisdictional nexus required; defences s 273.9 (public benefit; law enforcement) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(vi)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 273 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 273.7(1) | Aggravated — child abuse material outside Australia, 3+ occasions and 2+ people | (1) commits s 273.6 on 3+ separate occasions (fault per underlying; conduct need not be identical, s 273.7(4); no offence if defence to underlying, s 273.7(3)); (2) each commission involved 2+ people — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 30 yrs — alt verdict s 273.8 (basic s 273.6) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(vii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 273 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Division 273A — Child-like sex dolls¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 273A.1 | Possession etc. of child-like sex dolls | (1) possesses a doll/other object (intention); (2) resembles a person who is/appears under 18, or a body part — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) a reasonable person would consider it likely intended to simulate sexual intercourse (objective). | Max 15 yrs — defences s 273A.2 (public benefit; law enforcement/intelligence/security) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28B(viii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Division 471 (Subdiv B–C) — Postal or similar service offences¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 471.19(1)–(2) | Using a postal or similar service for child abuse material (two pathways) | (1)(a) causes an article carried by a postal/similar service (s 470.1) (intention); (1)(b) article is/contains CAM (s 473.1) — reckless (s 5.6(2)). Sub-(2): requests another person to cause such an article to be carried. | Max 15 yrs — defences s 471.21 (public benefit; law enforcement/intelligence/security) SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 Subdiv B not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.20(1) | Possessing, controlling, producing, supplying or obtaining child abuse material for use through a postal or similar service | (1) possess/control/produce/supply/obtain material (intention); (2) material is CAM (s 473.1) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) ulterior intent material be used in committing a s 471.19 offence (s 5.2; impossibility immaterial, s 471.20(2)). | Max 15 yrs — defences s 471.21 SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 Subdiv B not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.22(1) | Aggravated — postal/similar service for child abuse material, 3+ occasions and 2+ people | (1) commits s 471.19 or s 471.20 on 3+ separate occasions (fault per underlying; need not be identical, s 471.22(4); no offence if defence to underlying, s 471.22(3)); (2) each commission involved 2+ people — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 30 yrs — alt verdict s 471.23; underlying defences s 471.21 SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28C(i)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.24(1) | Using a postal or similar service to procure a person under 16 | (1) causes article carried by postal/similar service (s 470.1) to recipient (intention); (2) intent to procure recipient for sexual activity with sender/another (s 5.2; impossibility / fictitious recipient immaterial, s 471.28(1)–(2)); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab on actual-age (s 471.27(1)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 15 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) s 471.29; no offence to attempt (s 471.28(3)) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28C(ii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.25(1)–(2) | Using a postal or similar service to groom a person under 16 | (1) causes article carried to recipient (intention); (2) intent to make it easier to procure recipient for sexual activity (s 5.2); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 471.27(1)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. | Max 15 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) s 471.29 SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28C(iii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.25A(1) | Using a postal or similar service to groom a third party to make it easier to procure a person under 16 | (1) causes article carried to third-party recipient (intention); (2) intent to make it easier to procure a child for sexual activity (s 5.2); (3) child under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 471.27(1A)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. | Max 15 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) s 471.29(1A) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28C(iv)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 471.26(1) | Using a postal or similar service to send indecent material to a person under 16 | (1) causes article carried to recipient (intention); (2) article is/contains indecent material (ordinary standards, s 471.26(3); trier of fact, s 471.26(2)) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 471.27(1)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) Max 10 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) s 471.29 SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28C(v)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (Div 471 not in SOA Sch 1); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Division 474 (Subdiv D) — Carriage service / child abuse material¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 474.19(1) | Using a carriage service for child pornography material (HISTORICAL) | (1) conduct — access/transmit/make available/solicit (intention); (2) used a carriage service — abs liab + presumption (s 475.1B); (3) material is child pornography material — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 15 yrs — REPEALED/REPLACED by s 474.22 (Sch 7, Combatting CSE Act 2019, 21.9.2019); pre-2019 conduct only SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(a)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): YES — serious offender offence (para (df)). |
| s 474.20(1) | Possessing etc. child pornography material for use through a carriage service (HISTORICAL) | (1) conduct — possess/control/produce/supply/obtain (intention); (2) child pornography material — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) ulterior intent that material be used through a carriage service (s 5.2). | Max 15 yrs — REPEALED/REPLACED by s 474.23 (2019); pre-2019 conduct only SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(b)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): YES — serious offender offence (para (df)). |
| s 474.22(1) | Using a carriage service for child abuse material | (1) conduct — access/transmit/make available/publish/distribute/solicit — intention (s 474.22(2)(a)); (2) used a carriage service — abs liab (s 474.22(2A)) + presumption (s 475.1B); (3) material is CAM (s 473.1) — recklessness (s 474.22(2)(b)). | Max 15 yrs — mandatory min 4 yrs repeat offender (s 16AAB); defence s 474.24 SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61©); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.22A(1) | Possessing or controlling child abuse material obtained or accessed using a carriage service | (1) possession/control of material (intention); (2) material as data in computer/storage device — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) used carriage service to obtain/access — abs liab (s 474.22A(2)) + presumption shifting legal burden (s 474.22A(3)); (4) material is CAM (s 473.1) — reckless. | Max 15 yrs — mandatory min 4 yrs repeat offender (s 16AAB); defence s 474.24 SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 61); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.23(1) | Possessing, controlling, producing, supplying or obtaining child abuse material for use through a carriage service | (1) conduct — possess/control/produce/supply/obtain (intention); (2) material is CAM (s 473.1) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) ulterior intent material be used in committing a s 474.22 offence (s 5.2; impossibility immaterial, s 474.23(2)). | Max 15 yrs — defence s 474.24; no offence to attempt (s 474.23(3)) SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(d)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.23A(1) | Conduct for the purposes of an electronic service used for child abuse material | (1) conduct — create/develop/alter/maintain/control/moderate/make available/promote/assist re an electronic service (s 474.23A(4)) (intention); (2) service used for CAM (s 473.1) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) intent service be used in committing a s 474.22/474.23 offence (s 5.2). | Max 20 yrs — defence s 474.24; no offence to attempt (s 474.23A(3)) SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 61); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.24A(1) | Aggravated — carriage service for child abuse material, 3+ occasions and 2+ people | (1) commits s 474.22, s 474.22A or s 474.23 on 3+ separate occasions (no separate fault beyond underlying, s 474.24A(2); need not be identical); (2) each commission involved 2+ people — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 30 yrs — alt verdict s 474.24B SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(e)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Division 474 (Subdiv F) — Carriage service / sexual activity with or harm to person under 16¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 474.25A(1)–(2) | Using a carriage service for sexual activity with a person under 16 (two pathways: direct / causing engagement with a third party) | Sub-(1): (i) engages in sexual activity with child using carriage service (intention; incl real-time see/hear); (ii) child under 16 — abs liab (s 474.28(1)(a)); (iii) accused 18+ — reckless. Sub-(2): (i) conduct causing child to engage in sexual activity with a participant via carriage service (intention); (ii) child under 16 — abs liab; (iii) participant 18+ — abs liab (s 474.28(2)). Carriage-service presumption/abs liab (s 475.1B). | Max 20 yrs — legal-burden defences s 474.29 (belief child ≥16; (sub-2) belief participant <18) SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(f)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.25B(1) | Aggravated — carriage service for sexual activity with under-16 (mental impairment OR care/supervision/authority) | (1) commits s 474.25A(1) or (2) (no separate fault beyond underlying, s 474.28(7A)(a)); (2) aggravating circumstance — child has mental impairment OR accused in position of trust/authority or child under care/supervision/authority (or cruel treatment / death) — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 30 yrs — legal-burden defence s 474.29(3) (belief no mental impairment); alt verdict to s 474.25A SORA: Not listed (absent from SORA Sch 1 & 2); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(g)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.25C | Using a carriage service to prepare or plan to cause harm to, engage in sexual activity with, or procure for sexual activity, a person under 16 | (1) does an act (intention); (2) ulterior intent to prepare/plan causing harm to, sexual activity with, or procuring a person under 16 (s 5.2); (3) accused 18+ — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (4) act done using a carriage service — abs liab / presumption (s 475.1B). | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) Max 10 yrs — "Carly Ryan" offence (Protecting Minors Online Act 2017) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28D(viia)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 61); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.26(1) | Using a carriage service to procure a person under 16 | (1) uses a carriage service to transmit a communication to recipient (intention; presumption/abs liab s 475.1B); (2) intent to procure recipient for sexual activity with sender/another (s 5.2; no fixed intent / "fantasy" no defence — DPP (Cth) v FM; fictitious recipient immaterial); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 474.28(1)(b)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless (s 5.6(2)). | Max 15 yrs — mandatory min 4 yrs repeat offender (s 16AAB); age-belief defence s 474.29(5) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28D(viii)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(h)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.27(1)–(2) | Using a carriage service to groom a person under 16 | (1) uses a carriage service to transmit a communication (intention; presumption/abs liab s 475.1B); (2) intent to make it easier to procure recipient for sexual activity (s 5.2; DPP (Cth) v FM); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 474.28(1)(b)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. |
Max 15 yrs (was 12; increased 23.6.2020) — mandatory min 4 yrs repeat (s 16AAB); age-belief defence; no attempt (s 474.28(10)) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28D(ix)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(i)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.27A(1) | Using a carriage service to transmit indecent communication to a person under 16 | (1) uses a carriage service to transmit a communication (intention; presumption/abs liab s 475.1B); (2) communication includes indecent material (ordinary standards, s 474.27A(3); trier of fact, s 474.27A(2)) — reckless (s 5.6(2)); (3) recipient under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 474.28(1)(b)); fictitious recipient immaterial (s 474.28(9)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. | CTH IOTS (Need CDPP agreement) Max 10 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) s 474.29(5)–(6) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28D(x)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): YES — serious sex offence (Item 61(j)); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
| s 474.27AA | Using a carriage service to groom a third party to make it easier to procure a person under 16 | (1) uses a carriage service to transmit a communication to a third-party recipient (intention; presumption/abs liab s 475.1B); (2) intent to make it easier to procure a child for sexual activity (s 5.2); (3) child under 16 OR believed under 16 — abs liab (s 474.28(1)(a)); (4) sender 18+ — reckless. | Max 15 yrs — legal-burden age-belief defence (≥16) SORA: Class 2 (Sch 2 Item 28D(xi)); Serious Offenders Act 2018 Sch 1 (post-sentence SSO): No (omitted from Item 61); Sentencing Act 1991 Sch 1 (serious offender): No. |
Ancillary extensions of liability (modes of liability — not discrete offences)¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty / SS / SORA |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 11.1 | Attempt | Attempts to commit an offence; conduct more than merely preparatory (intention/knowledge as to each element, s 11.1(3)). | Same maximum as the completed offence (s 11.1(1)) — BUT attempt is excluded for ss 471.24/471.25/471.25A/474.26/474.27/474.27AA Extension of criminal responsibility (mode/inchoate): no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence to which it attaches. |
| s 11.2 | Complicity and common purpose | Aids, abets, counsels or procures the commission of an offence by another, with intent that conduct aid etc. and knowledge/belief of essential facts; taken to have committed the offence. | Mode of attaching liability to a substantive Div 272/273/471/474 offence — penalty = that of the principal offence Mode of liability: no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence. |
| s 11.2A | Joint commission | Two or more parties enter an agreement to commit an offence and an offence is committed in accordance with the agreement; each party taken to have committed the offence (incl offences in the course of the agreement that a party foresaw). | Mode of liability — penalty = that of the principal offence Mode of liability: no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence. |
| s 11.3 | Commission by proxy (innocent agency) | Procures conduct of another that would constitute an offence; the procurer taken to have committed the offence. | Mode of liability — penalty = that of the principal offence Mode of liability: no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence. |
| s 11.4 | Incitement | Urges the commission of an offence, intending that the offence be committed (s 11.4(2)). | Penalty scaled under s 11.4(4) (capped below the principal); cannot incite attempt/incitement/conspiracy Extension of criminal responsibility (mode/inchoate): no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence to which it attaches. |
| s 11.5 | Conspiracy | Agrees with another to commit an offence; an overt act pursuant to the agreement by at least one party; intention that the offence be committed. | Same maximum as the substantive offence (s 11.5(1)) — conspiracy excluded for s 272.19 Extension of criminal responsibility (mode/inchoate): no independent SORA/serious-offender status; takes the registration class and serious-offender status of the principal Div 272/273/471/474 offence to which it attaches. |
Maximum penalties are verified against the current Criminal Code (Cth) compilation via AustLII. Many were increased by the Crimes Legislation Amendment (Sexual Crimes Against Children and Community Protection Measures) Act 2020 (No 70 of 2020), eff 23 June 2020 — apply the penalty in force at the date of the offending (e.g. s 474.27 was 12 yrs before 23.6.2020).
Mandatory minimum sentences: a Commonwealth mandatory-minimum regime (ss 16AAA / 16AAB / 16AAC Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)) applies to certain of these offences for conduct on/after 23 June 2020 — broadly, a 7-yr minimum for the most serious contact/persistent offences (s 16AAA) and a 4-yr minimum for repeat child-sex offenders (s 16AAB), reducible by up to 25% each for a guilty plea and/or cooperation (s 16AAC), and disapplied where the offender was under 18. Confirm the applicable item against the s 16AAA/16AAB tables before relying.
- The s 11.1–11.5 rows are extensions of criminal responsibility, not discrete chargeable offences. The modes of liability (ss 11.2 complicity, 11.2A joint commission, 11.3 commission by proxy) attach to the substantive offence and carry the principal offence's penalty. Of the inchoate offences, attempt (s 11.1) and conspiracy (s 11.5) carry the principal offence's maximum and incitement (s 11.4) is scaled by s 11.4(4). Each applies except where expressly excluded — attempt is excluded for ss 471.24, 471.25, 471.25A, 474.26, 474.27 and 474.27AA and for the procuring and grooming offences; conspiracy is excluded for s 272.19.*
Consolidation note. This chapter merges the two Commonwealth child sex offence lists held in the source folder — "Commonwealth Child Sex Offences" and "Commonwealth Child Sexual Abuse Offences". Twenty-four provisions appeared in both and are reproduced once, from the more recent list; thirteen provisions unique to that list (ss 272.8–272.11, 272.18, 272.19, 273.7, 471.22, 474.23A, 474.24A, 474.25A–474.25C) and five unique to the other (ss 471.19, 471.20 and the inchoate provisions ss 11.1, 11.4, 11.5) are carried through. The result is 36 substantive offence provisions (37 chargeable offences counting s 272.20's sub-(1)/(2) and s 474.25A's two pathways separately), plus 6 ancillary and inchoate extensions of liability. Maximum penalties are current per the Criminal Code (Cth) as amended to 2020.