8. Commonwealth Drug Offences¶
Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Part 9.1 (Serious Drug Offences), plus Ch 2 Pt 2.4 extensions and Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) postal offence. Extracted from study notes. PU = penalty units; FE = fault element; AL = absolute liability (s 6.2 — mistake of fact under s 9.2 unavailable). Victorian Sentencing Act standard-sentence (SS) and SORA markers are inapplicable to Commonwealth offences and are omitted. Maxima reproduced only where stated in the notes.
Import–export of border controlled drugs / plants — Div 307 Subdiv A¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 307.1 | Import/export commercial quantity of border controlled drug/plant | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention (ss 300.2, 5.6(1)); (2) substance is a border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness (s 307.1(2)); (3) commercial quantity — AL (s 307.1(3)). | Maximum penalty (verified): life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.2 | Import/export marketable quantity of border controlled drug/plant | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness (s 307.2(2)); (3) marketable quantity — AL (s 307.2(3)). Lack-of-commercial-intention defence s 307.2(4) (legal burden). | Maximum penalty (verified): 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.3 | Import/export border controlled drug/plant (no quantity threshold) | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness (s 307.3(2)); no quantity element. Lack-of-commercial-intention defence s 307.3(3) (legal burden). | Maximum penalty (verified): 10 yrs / 2,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.4 | Import/export border controlled drug/plant (other than a determined substance) — base tier | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) border controlled drug/plant other than a determined substance (s 301.13) — FE recklessness (s 307.4(2)). Statutory alternative verdict to ss 307.2/307.3. | Maximum penalty (verified): 2 yrs / 400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Possession of unlawfully imported drugs / plants — Div 307 Subdiv B¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 307.5 | Possess commercial quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug/plant | (1) possesses a substance (s 300.2) — FE intention; (2) substance was unlawfully imported — AL (s 307.5(2)); (3) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness; (4) commercial quantity — AL. Defence s 307.5(4) did not know unlawfully imported (legal burden). | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.6 | Possess marketable quantity of unlawfully imported border controlled drug/plant | (1) possesses a substance — FE intention; (2) unlawfully imported — AL (s 307.6(2)); (3) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness (s 307.6(3)); (4) marketable quantity — AL. Defences s 307.6(4) lack of commercial intent + s 307.6(5) did not know unlawfully imported. | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Possession reasonably suspected of having been unlawfully imported — Div 307 Subdiv C¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 307.8 | Possess commercial quantity reasonably suspected of unlawful importation | (1) possesses a substance — FE intention; (2) reasonably suspected of being unlawfully imported — AL (s 307.8(2)); (3) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness; (4) commercial quantity — AL. Defence s 307.8(4) did not know unlawfully imported. | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.9 | Possess marketable quantity reasonably suspected of unlawful importation | (1) possesses a substance — FE intention; (2) reasonably suspected unlawfully imported — AL (s 307.9(2)); (3) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness; (4) marketable quantity — AL. Defence s 307.9(5). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.10 | Possess border controlled drug/plant reasonably suspected of unlawful importation — base tier | (1) possesses a substance — FE intention; (2) reasonably suspected unlawfully imported — AL (s 307.10(2)); (3) border controlled drug/plant — FE recklessness. Defence did not know unlawfully imported. | Max: 2 yrs / 400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Import–export of border controlled precursors — Div 307 Subdiv D¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 307.11 | Import/export commercial quantity of border controlled precursor | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) intends, or believes another intends, to use it to manufacture a controlled drug (s 307.11(1)(b)); (3) border controlled precursor (s 301.3) — FE recklessness (s 307.11(2)); (4) commercial quantity — AL (s 307.11(3)). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.12 | Import/export marketable quantity of border controlled precursor | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) intends/believes another intends manufacture of a controlled drug; (3) border controlled precursor — FE recklessness; (4) marketable quantity — AL (s 307.12(3)). | Max: 15 yrs / 3,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 307.13 | Import/export border controlled precursor — base tier | (1) imports/exports a substance — FE intention; (2) intends/believes another intends manufacture of a controlled drug; (3) border controlled precursor — FE recklessness (s 307.13(2)). | Max: 7 yrs / 1,400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Trafficking in controlled drugs — Div 302¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 302.2 | Traffic commercial quantity of controlled drug | (1) traffics in a substance (s 302.1 — sell/prepare/transport/guard/conceal/possess with intent to sell) — FE intention; (2) controlled drug (s 301.1) — FE recklessness (s 302.2(2)); (3) commercial quantity — AL (s 302.2(3)). s 302.5 trafficable-quantity presumption of intent to sell (legal burden to rebut). | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 302.3 | Traffic marketable quantity of controlled drug | (1) traffics in a substance (s 302.1) — FE intention; (2) controlled drug — FE recklessness; (3) marketable quantity — AL (s 302.3(3)). s 302.5 presumption. | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 302.4 | Traffic controlled drug — base tier | (1) traffics in a substance (s 302.1) — FE intention; (2) controlled drug — FE recklessness (s 302.4(2)). s 302.5 presumption; rebuttal reduces to s 308.1 possession. | Max: 10 yrs / 2,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Commercial cultivation of controlled plants — Div 303¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 303.4 | Cultivate commercial quantity of controlled plant | (1) cultivates a plant (ss 303.1, 303.2 — incl control/direction/finance) — FE intention; (2) for a commercial purpose — intent/belief as to sale (s 303.3), s 303.7 trafficable-qty presumption; (3) controlled plant (s 301.2; Cannabis) — FE recklessness (s 303.4(2)); (4) commercial quantity — AL (s 303.4(3)). | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 303.5 | Cultivate marketable quantity of controlled plant | (1) cultivates a plant — FE intention; (2) commercial purpose (s 303.3), s 303.7 presumption; (3) controlled plant — FE recklessness (s 303.5(2)); (4) marketable quantity — AL (s 303.5(3)). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 303.6 | Cultivate controlled plant — base tier | (1) cultivates a plant — FE intention; (2) commercial purpose (s 303.3), s 303.7 presumption; (3) controlled plant — FE recklessness (s 303.6(2)). | Max: 10 yrs / 2,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Selling controlled plants — Div 304¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 304.1 | Sell commercial quantity of controlled plant | (1) sells a plant (s 300.2 — incl barter/exchange/agree to sell) — FE intention; (2) controlled plant — FE recklessness (s 304.1(2)); (3) commercial quantity — AL (s 304.1(3)). | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 304.2 | Sell marketable quantity of controlled plant | (1) sells a plant — FE intention; (2) controlled plant — FE recklessness (s 304.2(2)); (3) marketable quantity — AL (s 304.2(3)). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 304.3 | Sell controlled plant — base tier | (1) sells a plant — FE intention; (2) controlled plant — FE recklessness (s 304.3(2)); no quantity element. | Max: 10 yrs / 2,000 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Commercial manufacture of controlled drugs — Div 305¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 305.3 | Manufacture commercial quantity of controlled drug | (1) manufactures a substance (ss 305.1(1)–(2) — incl control/direction/finance) — FE intention; (2) for a commercial purpose — intent/belief as to sale (s 305.2), s 305.6 trafficable-qty presumption; (3) controlled drug — FE recklessness (s 305.3(2)); (4) commercial quantity — AL (s 305.3(3)). | Max: life / 7,500 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 305.4 | Manufacture marketable quantity of controlled drug (+ aggravated s 310.4) | (1) manufactures a substance — FE intention; (2) commercial purpose (s 305.2), s 305.6 presumption; (3) controlled drug — FE recklessness (s 305.4(2)); (4) marketable quantity — AL (s 305.4(3)). Aggravated where commission exposes a child under 14 (s 310.4(2)). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU — aggravated (s 310.4) 28 yrs / 5,600 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 305.5 | Manufacture controlled drug — base tier (+ aggravated s 310.4) | (1) manufactures a substance — FE intention; (2) commercial purpose (s 305.2), s 305.6 presumption; (3) controlled drug — FE recklessness (s 305.5(2)). Aggravated where commission exposes a child under 14 (s 310.4(2)). | Max: 10 yrs / 2,000 PU — aggravated (s 310.4) 12 yrs / 2,400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Pre-trafficking controlled precursors — Div 306¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 306.2 | Pre-traffic commercial quantity of controlled precursor (+ aggravated s 310.4) | (1) pre-traffics in a substance (s 306.1 — sell/manufacture/possess with the prescribed manufacture-and-sale intents/beliefs) — FE intention/belief; (2) controlled precursor (s 301.3) — FE recklessness (s 306.2(2)); (3) commercial quantity — AL (s 306.2(3)). ss 306.6–306.8 presumptions; aggravated s 310.4(3) (child under 14). | Max: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU — aggravated (s 310.4) 28 yrs / 5,600 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 306.3 | Pre-traffic marketable quantity of controlled precursor (+ aggravated s 310.4) | (1) pre-traffics in a substance (s 306.1) — FE intention/belief; (2) controlled precursor — FE recklessness (s 306.3(2)); (3) marketable quantity — AL (s 306.3(3)). ss 306.6–306.8 presumptions; aggravated s 310.4(3). | Max: 15 yrs / 3,000 PU — aggravated (s 310.4) 17 yrs Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 306.4 | Pre-traffic controlled precursor — base tier (+ aggravated s 310.4) | (1) pre-traffics in a substance (s 306.1) — FE intention/belief; (2) controlled precursor — FE recklessness (s 306.4(2)). s 306.5 manufacture/possession presumption + ss 306.6–306.8; aggravated s 310.4(3). | Max: 7 yrs / 1,400 PU — aggravated (s 310.4) 9 yrs / 1,800 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Possession offences — Div 308¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 308.1 | Possess controlled drug | (1) possesses a substance (s 300.2) — FE intention; (2) controlled drug, other than a determined controlled drug (s 301.1) — FE recklessness (s 308.1(2)). State/Territory diversion mechanism s 308.1(3)–(4); usually dealt with summarily. | Max: 2 yrs / 400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 308.2 | Possess controlled precursor | (1) possesses a substance — FE intention; (2) intends to use any of it to manufacture a controlled drug (s 308.2(1)); (3) controlled precursor (s 301.3) — FE recklessness. | Max: 2 yrs / 400 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Drug offences involving children — Div 309 (ss 309.7–309.15)¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| ss 309.7–309.15 | Supplying / procuring a child in the illicit drug trade (quantity-tiered group) | (1) supplies a substance to, or procures, a child to traffic/pre-traffic/import — FE intention; (2) the individual is a child (under 18) — FE recklessness (s 5.6(2)); (3) controlled/border controlled drug or precursor — FE recklessness (s 300.5); (4) where tiered: commercial/marketable quantity — AL. Supply equated in gravity to commercial trafficking. | Maximum penalty (verified): FILLED — 15 years to life imprisonment, tiered by quantity Commercial quantity (the largest) → up to life imprisonment Marketable quantity → up to 25 years (and in the supply limb, life). Below those thresholds → around 15 years. Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Danger and harm to children — aggravation framework — Div 310¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 310.4 | Aggravated offence — exposure of a child under 14 (not a freestanding offence) | Converts ss 305.4, 305.5, 306.2, 306.3, 306.4 into aggravated offences. Additional elements: (1) commission exposes an individual to the manufacture/precursor — FE recklessness (s 5.6(2)); (2) the individual is under 14 — FE recklessness. Must be alleged on indictment (s 310.4(1)); alternative verdict to base offence available. | s 305.4 — manufacture marketable quantity of a controlled drug: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU → 28 yrs / 5,600 PU s 305.5 — manufacture a controlled drug (basic): 10 yrs / 2,000 PU → 12 yrs / 2,400 PU s 306.2 — pre-traffic commercial quantity of a controlled precursor: 25 yrs / 5,000 PU → 28 yrs / 5,600 PU s 306.3 — pre-traffic marketable quantity of a controlled precursor: 15 yrs / 3,000 PU → 17 yrs / 3,400 PU s 306.4 — pre-traffic a controlled precursor (basic): 7 yrs / 1,400 PU → 9 yrs / 1,800 PU Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Extensions of criminal responsibility — Ch 2 Pt 2.4¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 11.1 | Attempt | (1) conduct more than merely preparatory to the substantive offence (question of fact); (2) FE intention and knowledge as to each physical element. Impossibility no defence (s 11.1(4)(a)); cannot attempt complicity/joint commission/proxy/conspiracy (s 11.1(7)). | Penalty of the substantive offence attempted Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 11.2 | Complicity and common purpose (aiding & abetting) | (1) conduct that in fact aids/abets/counsels/procures an offence by another; (2) the principal offence is committed; (3) FE intention that the conduct aid the offence (incl its fault elements). Derivative; principal need not be prosecuted (s 11.2(5)). Replaces abolished 'knowingly concerned'. | Penalty of the substantive offence Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
| s 11.5 | Conspiracy | (1) agreement with one or more others; (2) at least one overt act pursuant to the agreement; (3) FE intention that an offence be committed. Impossibility no defence (s 11.5(3)(a)); DPP consent required (s 11.5(8)); no conviction if inconsistent with co-conspirators' acquittals (s 11.5(4)(a)). | Penalty of the substantive offence — DPP consent required Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
Postal offence — Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)¶
| Section | Offence | Brief elements | Penalty (max imprisonment / PU) |
|---|---|---|---|
| s 85W(1) | Cause an article to be carried by post consisting of / containing a controlled drug or plant | (1) causes an article to be carried by post — FE intention (expressly prescribed, s 85W(1)); (2) the article consists of/encloses/contains a controlled drug/plant (Criminal Code definitions imported) — FE recklessness (s 5.6(2)). No quantity threshold. Medical Chest Program exception s 85W(3). | Max: 2 yrs Ancillary (Victorian) schemes: N/A — Commonwealth offence. Not registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and not a category ½, standard-sentence or serious-offender offence under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those schemes list only Victorian offences). Sentenced under Pt IB Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) (s 16A factors). |
- Maxima omitted where the notes did not state them: ss 307.1, 307.2, 307.3 and 307.4 give no maximum penalty in the proforma, and the Division 309 (ss 309.7–309.15) maxima are described as quantity-tiered without specific figures. Confirm these against the current Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) before relying.*
Penalty units (PU): the Commonwealth penalty-unit value is indexed periodically — confirm the current dollar value at the relevant offence date.
31 proforma entries: 29 substantive Part 9.1 offence provisions (incl. the three Div 304 selling tiers as discrete rows), the Div 309 child-involvement group (ss 309.7–309.15), the s 310.4 aggravation framework, the Pt 2.4 extensions (ss 11.1, 11.2, 11.5), and the postal offence (s 85W(1) Crimes Act 1914 (Cth)).
Verification note — penalties checked against the Criminal Code (Cth) and the ancillary-orders position (18 June 2026)
These are Commonwealth offences (Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Pt 9.1; plus Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 85W). Every maximum penalty was verified against the Criminal Code (Cth). All maxima stated in the charge list are CORRECT. The four import/export tiers the notes left blank are now filled: s 307.1 life / 7,500 PU; s 307.2 25 yrs / 5,000 PU; s 307.3 10 yrs / 2,000 PU; s 307.4 2 yrs / 400 PU. The Division 309 child-involvement offences (ss 309.7–309.15), which the notes left unstated, carry 15 years to life imprisonment tiered by quantity. The aggravated maxima for ss 305.4, 305.5 and 306.2–306.4 are stated in each offence's own penalty clause (confirmed verbatim for s 305.5 — 12 yrs / 2,400 PU); s 310.4(2) supplies the aggravating circumstance (exposing a person under 14 to the manufacture). The aggravated penalty-unit figure for s 306.3 was completed to 3,400 PU consistent with that pattern. ANCILLARY ORDERS / SCHEMES: none of the Victorian schemes verified for the other charge lists applies here — Commonwealth drug offences are NOT registrable under the Sex Offenders Registration Act 2004 (Vic), and are NOT category ½ / standard-sentence / serious-offender offences under the Sentencing Act 1991 (Vic) (those provisions enumerate only Victorian offences; the only drug offences they capture are the Victorian DPCSA offences). A federal offender is sentenced under Part IB of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), principally s 16A. Sources: Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth) Pt 9.1 — ss 302–310 (penalties confirmed via the ACT Law Handbook Cth drug offences table, the Legal Aid Qld Commonwealth Criminal Code penalty reckoner, the Queensland Law Handbook, and s 305.5 verbatim); Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) s 85W (AustLII).