House debates

Monday, 19 October 2009

Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008

Consideration of Senate Message

Consideration resumed.

Senate amendments—(1)          Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (lines 4 and 5), omit “, or alternatively, order pre-trial disclosure (see section 23CD)”, substitute “order pre-trial disclosure (see subsection 23CD(1))”.

(2)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 11 (line 15), omit “section 23CD”, substitute “subsection 23CD(1)”.

(3)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (line 1), omit the heading to section 23CD, substitute:

23CD Pre-trial and ongoing disclosure

(4)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (line 2), before “After”, insert “(1)”.

(5)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 12 (after line 19), at the end of section 23CD, add:

        (2)    The accused must give the following to the prosecutor as soon as practicable after the accused’s first pre-trial hearing before the Court in relation to the indictment:

             (a)    if at the trial the accused proposes to adduce supporting evidence of an alibi—notice of particulars, prepared in accordance with the Rules of Court, of that alibi;

             (b)    if at the trial the accused proposes to adduce supporting evidence that the accused was suffering from a mental impairment (within the meaning of section 7.3 of the Criminal Code)—notice of particulars, prepared in accordance with the Rules of Court, of that impairment.

Note:   A party may also be required to disclose additional information as a result of other laws (for example, subsection 44ZZRO(2) of the Trade Practices Act 1974).

(6)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 13 (line 33), before “The”, insert “(1)”.

(7)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 14 (line 5), omit “basis”, substitute “general basis”.

(8)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 14 (line 11), omit “basis”, substitute “general basis”.

(9)    Schedule 1, item 2, page 15 (lines 1 to 8), omit paragraphs 23CF(i) and (j).

(10)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 15 (after line 12), at the end of section 23CF, add:

        (2)    Paragraph (1)(a) and subparagraph (1)(b)(ii) do not require the accused to disclose details of the accused’s proposed defence.

(11)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 15 (line 23), omit “23CF(k)”, substitute “23CF(1)(k)”.

(12)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 16 (line 20), omit “section 23CD”, substitute “subsection 23CD(1)”.

(13)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 16 (line 23), omit “subsections (2) and (3)”, substitute “subsection (2)”.

(14)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 17 (line 3), omit “or”.

(15)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 17 (lines 4 to 6), omit paragraph 23CH(2)(f).

(16)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 17 (lines 12 to 14), omit subsection 23CH(3).

(17)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 18 (lines 18 and 19), omit “A copy or details of any information, document or other thing is not required to be given under an order under section 23CD”, substitute “Nothing in this Subdivision requires a copy or details of any information, document or other thing to be given”.

(18)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 20 (lines 1 to 34), omit section 23CL, substitute:

23CL Effect on legal professional privilege and other privileges and duties etc.

Litigation privilege not an excuse for failing to comply with pre-trial disclosure requirements

        (1)    A party is not excused from disclosing material under this Subdivision on the basis of litigation privilege claimed by the party in relation to the material.

Note:   The party can still be excused from disclosing material on the basis of advice privilege (that is, privilege that would, if the material were evidence to be adduced in the Court, protect against a disclosure covered by section 118 of the Evidence Act 1995).

        (2)    This Subdivision does not otherwise:

             (a)    abrogate or affect the law relating to legal professional privilege; or

             (b)    amount to a waiver of legal professional privilege.

Note:   This means, for example, that legal professional privilege will apply for the trial.

Other privileges and duties unaffected

        (3)    This Subdivision does not abrogate or affect:

             (a)    the operation of the National Security Information (Criminal and Civil Proceedings) Act 2004; or

             (b)    the law relating to public interest immunity.

        (4)    This Subdivision does not abrogate or affect the law relating to any duty of a person investigating the accused to ensure that information and other things are disclosed to the prosecutor or the accused.

Definitions

        (5)    In this section:

legal professional privilege includes privilege (however described) under Division 1 of Part 3.10 of the Evidence Act 1995, or a similar law of a State or Territory.

litigation privilege means privilege (however described) that would, if the material were evidence to be adduced in the Court, protect against a disclosure covered by section 119 of the Evidence Act 1995.

(19)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 21 (lines 1 to 38), omit section 23CM, substitute:

23CM Consequences of disclosure requirements

Orders to ensure non-compliance does not unfairly affect the other party

        (1)    The Court may make such orders as it thinks appropriate to ensure that:

             (a)    any failure by the prosecutor to comply with an order under subsection 23CD(1) does not cause unfairness to the accused; and

             (b)    any failure by the accused to comply with an order under subsection 23CD(1) does not prejudice the prosecutor’s ability to efficiently conduct the prosecution.

        (2)    However, the Court must not make an order under subsection (1) if it would result in an unfair trial.

Certain evidence cannot be adduced at trial unless there is earlier disclosure

        (3)    If the accused fails to comply with subsection 23CD(2) in relation to an alibi, the accused may only adduce evidence of the alibi with the leave of the Court.

        (4)    If the accused fails to comply with subsection 23CD(2) in relation to a mental impairment (within the meaning of section 7.3 of the Criminal Code), the accused may only adduce evidence that the accused was suffering from the impairment with the leave of the Court.

(20)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 22 (lines 4 and 5), omit “in accordance with an order under section 23CD”, substitute “under this Subdivision”.

(21)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 22 (line 12), omit “order under section 23CD was made”, substitute “entrusted person obtained the protected material”.

(22)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 23 (lines 2 and 3), omit “order under section 23CD was made”, substitute “entrusted person obtained the protected material”.

(23)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 23 (lines 10 and 11), omit “some or all of the material disclosed in accordance with an order under section 23CD”, substitute “any or all of the material disclosed under this Subdivision”.

(24)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 27 (lines 8 to 20), omit section 23DG, substitute:

23DG Jury roll for a jury district

        (1)    The Sheriff may prepare a written jury roll for a jury district.

        (2)    A jury roll prepared under subsection (1) is not a legislative instrument.

(25)  Schedule 1, item 2, page 32 (lines 1 to 6), omit subsection 23DM(2) (including the notes), substitute:

        (2)    The jury list consists of:

             (a)    the names and addresses; and

             (b)    if readily available to the Sheriff—the dates of birth and sex;

of persons that the Sheriff selects from the jury roll for the applicable jury district.

Note 1:  The jury list may be supplemented under subsection (5).

Note 2:  The Sheriff may remove a person’s name from the jury list under section 23DO.

(26)  Schedule 1, item 3, page 56 (lines 5 to 29), omit subsections 30AE(4) and (5), substitute:

        (4)    In relation to criminal appeal proceedings, a single Judge (sitting in Chambers or in open court) or a Full Court may:

             (a)    join or remove a party to an appeal to the Court; or

             (b)    make an order by consent disposing of an appeal to the Court; or

             (c)    make an order that an appeal to the Court be dismissed for want of prosecution; or

             (d)    make an order that an appeal to the Court be dismissed for:

                   (i)    failure to comply with a direction of the Court; or

                  (ii)    failure of the appellant to attend a hearing relating to the appeal; or

             (e)    vary or set aside an order under paragraph (c) or (d); or

              (f)    give directions about the conduct of an appeal to the Court, including directions about:

                   (i)    the use of written submissions; and

                  (ii)    limiting the time for oral argument.

     (4A)    An application for the exercise of a power mentioned in subsection (4) must be heard and determined by a single Judge unless:

             (a)    a Judge directs that the application be heard and determined by a Full Court; or

             (b)    the application is made in a proceeding that has already been assigned to a Full Court and the Full Court considers it is appropriate for it to hear and determine the application.

        (5)    The Rules of Court may make provision enabling an application of the kind mentioned in subsection (2), (3) or (4A) to be dealt with, subject to conditions prescribed by the Rules, without an oral hearing.

(27)  Schedule 1, item 4, page 82 (line 16), omit “significant”, substitute “material”.

(28)  Schedule 1, item 4, page 82 (after line 30), after subsection 58DB(2), insert:

     (2A)    An accused applying for bail during indictable primary proceedings is entitled to be granted bail during the proceedings in relation to an offence against either of the following sections of the Trade Practices Act 1974:

             (a)    section 44ZZRF (making a contract etc. containing a cartel provision);

             (b)    section 44ZZRG (giving effect to a cartel provision);

unless the Court decides otherwise after considering the matters mentioned in subsection (2).

(29)  Schedule 1, item 4, page 83 (line 22) to page 84 (line 3), omit section 58DD, substitute:

58DD Bail to be stayed pending appeal

        (1)    If:

             (a)    the Court makes a bail order; and

             (b)    the prosecutor requests the Court to stay the bail order pending appeal;

the bail order is stayed by force of this section for 48 hours.

        (2)    If a notice of appeal from the bail order is filed within that 48 hours, the stay of the bail order continues by force of this section until:

             (a)    the appeal is finally disposed of; or

             (b)    the prosecutor withdraws the appeal in accordance with the Rules of Court; or

             (c)    a Full Court orders, under this subsection, that the stay be set aside;

whichever happens first.

        (3)    If the prosecutor makes a request under paragraph (1)(b), the appeal from the making of the bail order must be dealt with as quickly as possible.

        (4)    If a bail order is stayed by force of this section, the Court must, by warrant of commitment, remand the accused in custody for the duration of the stay.

        (5)    A warrant of commitment under subsection (4) may be signed by any Judge, the Registrar or any Deputy Registrar, District Registrar or Deputy District Registrar of the Court.

(30)  Schedule 1, item 21, page 103 (line 2), omit “section 23CD”, substitute “subsection 23CD(1)”.

(31)  Schedule 1, item 32, page 105 (lines 21 to 24), omit the item.

(32)  Schedule 1, items 60 to 63, page 110 (lines 6 to 27), omit the items.

6:29 pm

Photo of Robert McClellandRobert McClelland (Barton, Australian Labor Party, Attorney-General) Share this | | Hansard source

I move:

That the amendments be agreed to.

The Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008 provides the procedural framework to allow the Federal Court to hear jury trials for its new jurisdiction in relation to serious cartel offences under the Trade Practices Act 1974. The bill will ensure that the Federal Court is fully equipped with a robust and fair procedural framework to hear jury trials for serious cartel conduct. These government amendments to schedule 1 of the bill are to respond to the recommendations of the Senate Standing Committee on Legal and Constitutional Affairs following its inquiry into the bill and to address some other issues that came to notice when the bill was reviewed following the committee’s report.

The amendments proposed to the bill will do the following. They will clarify that the accused must give notice of a proposed defence of alibi or mental impairment, even if there is no court order for disclosure. They will make it clear that the accused is only required to give a general indication of their reasons for disputing the prosecution case against them and is not required to disclose details of a proposed defence. They will clarify that there is no general removal of legal professional privilege but that such privilege is temporarily overridden in limited circumstances at the pre-trial stage. They will clarify the consequences of non-compliance with disclosure requirements. They will clarify the process of preparation of jury roles and lists by the court. They will clarify the test for a further application for bail and they will make it clear that there is a presumption in favour of bail in relation to a serious cartel offence. They will clarify that the prosecution does not have power to give the court directions.

In conclusion, the proposed amendments represent a balanced approach to the recommendations of the Senate committee in order to support efficient and fair criminal trials for serious cartel conduct in the Federal Court, without reducing the effective operation of the bill. I commend the Senate committee on their work on the bill.

Question agreed to.