Federal Court Criminal Jurisdiction

In October 2009, the Commonwealth parliament passed the Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act. This Act amended the Federal Court of Australia Act 1976 and the Judiciary Act 1903 and provided the procedural framework to allow the Federal Court to exercise criminal jurisdiction.

These amendments were necessary in view of the Trade Practices Amendment (Cartel Conduct and Other Measures) Act 2009 which creates serious cartel offences and gives the Federal Court jurisdiction to try them.

The Law Council commented upon and contributed to the development of the Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Act at various stages of the drafting and parliamentary process.

The Law Council intends to closely monitor the implementation of the Act.

Materials

Years: 2009 , 2008

2009

•  Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008 - Supplementary Information
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee
•  Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008
  Submission to the Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee

2008

•  Law Council comments and queries regarding the Federal Court of Australia Amendment (Criminal Jurisdiction) Bill 2008
  Submission to the Attorney-General’s Department