War Crimes Act 1945

No. 48, 1945

Compilation No.   5

Compilation date: 23 May 2018

Includes amendments up to: Act No. 34, 2018

Registered: 30 May 2018

About this compilation

This compilation

This is a compilation of the War Crimes Act 1945 that shows the text of the law as amended and in force on 23 May 2018 (the compilation date).

The notes at the end of this compilation (the endnotes) include information about amending laws and the amendment history of provisions of the compiled law.

Uncommenced amendments

The effect of uncommenced amendments is not shown in the text of the compiled law. Any uncommenced amendments affecting the law are accessible on the Legislation Register (www.legislation.gov.au). The details of amendments made up to, but not commenced at, the compilation date are underlined in the endnotes. For more information on any uncommenced amendments, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Application, saving and transitional provisions for provisions and amendments

If the operation of a provision or amendment of the compiled law is affected by an application, saving or transitional provision that is not included in this compilation, details are included in the endnotes.

Editorial changes

For more information about any editorial changes made in this compilation, see the endnotes.

Modifications

If the compiled law is modified by another law, the compiled law operates as modified but the modification does not amend the text of the law. Accordingly, this compilation does not show the text of the compiled law as modified. For more information on any modifications, see the series page on the Legislation Register for the compiled law.

Self - repealing provisions

If a provision of the compiled law has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law, details are included in the endnotes.

Contents

Part I—Preliminary 1

1 Short title 1

2 Commencement 1

3 Application 2

3A Application of the Criminal Code 2

Part II—Interpretation 3

4 Effect of this Part 3

5 Interpretation 3

6 Serious crimes 4

7 War crimes 6

8 Effect of sections 6 and 7 7

Part III—War crimes 8

9 War crime to be indictable offence 8

10 Punishment 8

11 Only Australian citizens or residents to be prosecuted 9

12 Who may prosecute 9

13 Jurisdiction of courts and choice of law 9

14 Objection to venue 11

15 Effect of order for change of venue 11

16 No defence of superior orders 12

17 Defence based on laws, customs and usages of war 12

18 Alternative verdicts 13

19 Legal assistance 14

20 Certain provisions enacted to avoid doubt 15

21 Reporting 15

Endnotes 16

Endnote 1—About the endnotes 16

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key 18

Endnote 3—Legislation history 19

Endnote 4—Amendment history 20

An Act to provide for the Trial and Punishment of War Criminals

Preamble

concern has arisen that a significant number of persons who committed serious war crimes in Europe during World War II may since have entered Australia and became Australian citizens or residents;

it is appropriate that persons accused of such war crimes be brought to trial in the ordinary criminal courts in ; and

it is also essential in the interests of justice that persons so accused be given a fair trial with all the safeguards for accused persons in trials in those courts, having particular regard to matters such as the gravity of the allegations and the lapse of time since the alleged crimes:

BE it therefore enacted by the King’s Most Excellent Majesty, the Senate, and the House of Representatives of the Commonwealth of Australia, as follows:

WHEREAS:

 I Preliminary
1 Short title

This Act may be cited as the War Crimes Act 1945.
2 Commencement

This Act shall come into operation on the day on which it receives the Royal Assent.
3 Application

This Act extends to all external Territories and has extra-territorial operation according to its tenor.
3A Application of the Criminal Code

Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code applies to all offences against this Act.

Note: Chapter 2 of the Criminal Code sets out the general principles of criminal responsibility.
II Interpretation
4 Effect of this Part

The provisions of this Part have effect for the purposes of this Act, except so far as the contrary intention appears in this Act.
5 Interpretation

Unless the contrary intention appears:

act includes omission.

do includes make.

occupation means:

 a

an occupation of territory arising out of a war; or

 b

without limiting the generality of paragraph (a), an occupation of territory in , or as a direct or indirect result of:

 i

the agreement of 23 August 1939 between and the ; or

 ii

any protocol to that agreement.

person means a natural person, whether or not the person is or has ever been: an Australian citizen; a resident of ; a British subject;or a citizen of a country allied or associated with in relation to the conduct of a war.

 a

an Australian citizen;

 b

a resident of ;

 c

a British subject;or

 d

a citizen of a country allied or associated with in relation to the conduct of a war.

proceeding, in relation to an offence, means:

 a

a proceeding for commitment for trial in respect of the offence; or

 b

a prosecution on indictment for the offence.

war means:

 a

a war, whether declared or not;

 b

any other armed conflict between countries; or

 c

a civil war or similar armed conflict;

(whether or not involving or a country allied or associated with ) in so far as it occurred in in the period beginning on 1 September 1939 and ending on 8 May 1945.
6 Serious crimes 1

An act is a serious crime if it was done in a part of and was, under the law then in force in that part, an offence, being:

 a

murder;

 b

manslaughter;

 c

causing grievous bodily harm;

 d

wounding;

 e

rape;

 f

indecent assault;

 g

abduction, or procuring, for immoral purposes;

 h

(h) an offence (in this paragraph called the variant offence) that would be referred to in a preceding paragraph if that paragraph contained a reference to:

 i

a particular intention or state of mind on the offender’s part; or

 ii

particular circumstances of aggravation;

necessary to constitute the variant offence;

 j

an offence whose elements are substantially the same as the elements of an offence referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (h), inclusive; or

 k

an offence of:

 i

attempting or conspiring to commit;

 ii

aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the commission of; or

 iii

being, by act or omission, in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the commission of;

an offence referred to in any of paragraphs (a) to (j), inclusive.

 2

In determining for the purposes of subsection (1) whether or not an act was, under the law in force at a particular time in a part of , an offence of a particular kind, regard shall be had to any defence under that law that could have been established in a proceeding for the offence.

 3

An act is a serious crime if:

 a

it was done at a particular time outside ; and

 b

the law in force at that time in some part of was such that the act would, had it been done at that time in that part, be a serious crime by virtue of subsection (1).

 4

The deportation of a person to, or the internment of a person in, a death camp, a slave labour camp, or a place where persons are subjected to treatment similar to that undergone in a death camp or slave labour camp, is a serious crime.

 5

Each of the following is a serious crime:

 a

attempting or conspiring to deport or intern a person as mentioned in subsection (4);

 b

aiding, abetting, counselling or procuring the deportation or internment of a person as so mentioned;

 c

being, by act or omission, in any way, directly or indirectly, knowingly concerned in, or party to, the deportation or internment of a person as so mentioned.

 6

For the purposes of subsections (3), (4) and (5), the fact that the doing of an act was required or permitted by the law in force when and where the act was done shall be disregarded.
7 War crimes 1

A serious crime is a war crime if it was committed:

 a

in the course of hostilities in a war;

 b

in the course of an occupation;

 c

in pursuing a policy associated with the conduct of a war or with an occupation; or

 d

on behalf of, or in the interests of, a power conducting a war or engaged in an occupation.

 2

For the purposes of subsection (1), a serious crime was not committed:

 a

in the course of hostilities in a war; or

 b

in the course of an occupation;

merely because the serious crime had with the hostilities or occupation a connection (whether in time, in time and place, or otherwise) that was only incidental or remote.

 3

A serious crime is a war crime if it was:

 a

committed:

 i

in the course of political, racial or religious persecution; or

 ii

with intent to destroy in whole or in part a national, ethnic, racial or religious group, as such; and

 b

committed in the territory of a country when the country was involved in a war or when territory of the country was subject to an occupation.

 4

Two or more serious crimes together constitute a war crime if:

 a

they are of the same or a similar character;

 b

they form, or are part of, a single transaction or event; and

 c

each of them is also a war crime by virtue of either or both of subsections (1) and (3).
8 Effect of sections 6 and 7 1

Subject to subsection 7(2), nothing in section 6 or 7 limits the generality of anything else in that section.

 2

An act may be a serious crime by virtue of one of more of subsections 6(1), (3), (4) and (5), but not otherwise.

 3

A serious crime may be a war crime by virtue of either or both of subsections 7(1) and (3), but not otherwise.

 4

Two or more serious crimes may together constitute a war crime by virtue of subsection 7(4), but not otherwise.
III War crimes
9 War crime to be indictable offence 1

A person who:

 a

on or after 1 September 1939 and on or before 8 May 1945; and

 b

whether as an individual or as a member of an organisation;

committed a war crime is guilty of an indictable offence against this Act.

 2

(2) Sections 11.1, 11.2, 11.2A and 11.5 of the Criminal Code do not apply in relation to an offence against this Act.

 3

For the purposes of an offence against subsection (1), absolute liability applies to the following physical elements of circumstance of the offence:

 a

if subsection 6(1) applies—that the relevant act was, under the law in force at the relevant time in the relevant part of , an offence mentioned in that subsection;

 b

if subsection 6(3) applies—that the law in force at the relevant time in some part of was such that the relevant act would, had it been done at that time in that part, have been a serious crime under subsection 6(1).

Note: For absolute liability, see section 6.2 of the Criminal Code.
10 Punishment 1

The punishment for an offence against this Act involving the wilful killing of a person is imprisonment for life or for any lesser term.

 2

The punishment for any other offence against this Act is imprisonment for not more than 25 years.
11 Only Australian citizens or residents to be prosecuted

A person shall not be charged with an offence against this Act unless he or she is:

 a

an Australian citizen; or

 b

a resident of or of an external Territory.
12 Who may prosecute

An offence against this Act may only be prosecuted in the name of the Attorney-General or the Director of Public Prosecutions.
13 Jurisdiction of courts and choice of law 1

(1) Section 68 of the Judiciary Act 1903 applies in relation to an offence against this Act as if a reference in that section to a Territory did not include a reference to an external Territory.

 2

Where a person is charged with an offence against this Act, then, for the purposes of:

 a

determining whether a court of a State or internal Territory has jurisdiction in relation to the offence;

 b

an exercise of jurisdiction by such a court in relation to the offence;

 c

a proceeding connected with such an exercise of jurisdiction; and

 d

an appeal arising out of, or out of a proceeding connected with, such an exercise of jurisdiction;

this Act has effect, in relation to an act that is, or is alleged to be, the offence, as if:

 e

a reference in subsection 6(3) or section 18 to a part of were a reference to that State or Territory; and

 f

without limiting subsection 6(2), all defences under the law in force in that State or Territory when the person is charged with the offence had been defences under the law in force in that State or Territory at the time of the act.

 3

Where:

 a

(a) it is sought in a proceeding for an offence against this Act to establish for the purposes of subsection 6(2) that a particular defence could have been established in a proceeding (in this subsection called the other proceeding) for an offence; and

 b

in the other proceeding, the onus of establishing the defence would have lain on the defendant;

then, in the first-mentioned proceeding, the onus of establishing that the defence could have been established in the other proceeding lies on the defendant.

 4

Nothing in Part II or subsection 9(1) shall be taken to exclude, limit or otherwise prejudice:

 a

the application in proceedings for offences against this Act of the normal rules of evidence and procedure that apply in proceedings for offences against the laws of the Commonwealth; or

 b

any of the powers of a court in respect of proceedings for offences against the laws of the Commonwealth, including, but not limited to, the powers of a court to take action to prevent an abuse of process.

 5

Where, on the trial of a person for an offence against this Act, the person satisfies the judge, on the balance of probabilities, that:

 a

the person is unable to obtain evidence that he or she would, but for the lapse of time or some other reason beyond his or her control, have been able to obtain;

 b

the person’s inability to obtain that evidence has substantially prejudiced, or will substantially prejudice, the preparation or conduct of his or her defence; and

 c

the interests of justice require the making of an order under this subsection;

the judge may make such order as he or she thinks appropriate for a stay of proceedings for the offence.

 6

Nothing in subsections (4) and (5) limits the generality of anything else in those subsections.
14 Objection to venue 1

This section applies where a proceeding for an offence against this Act is being held in a State or internal Territory.

 2

The defendant may apply to the magistrate or judge for an order that all proceedings for the offence be held in another State or internal Territory.

 3

An application may only be made:

 a

as soon as reasonably practicable after the defendant is charged with the offence; or

 b

at such later time as the magistrate or judge allows.

 4

If an application is made, the magistrate or judge shall, unless he or she is satisfied on the balance of probabilities that the defendant, when charged with the offence:

 a

was a resident of the State or Territory referred to in subsection (1); or

 b

was not a resident of that other State or Territory;

order that all proceedings for the offence be held in that other State or Territory.

 5

An order under this section is subject to appeal or review to the same extent, and in the same manner, as any other order or decision by the magistrate or judge made in the proceeding.

 6

For the purposes of this section, the and the constitute a single Territory.
15 Effect of order for change of venue 1

This section applies where:

 a

a proceeding for an offence against this Act is being held in a State or internal Territory; and

 b

the magistrate or judge orders under section 14 that all proceedings for the offence be held in another State or internal Territory.

 2

The magistrate or judge may order that the defendant be taken, as soon as practicable, in the custody of a specified person, to that other State or Territory and there delivered into the custody of a person having authority to arrest him or her.

 3

The magistrate or judge may make such further orders as he or she thinks necessary to facilitate the carrying into effect of an order made under subsection (2).

 4

While the order under section 14 is in force:

 a

a proceeding for the offence shall not be held except in that other State or Territory; and

 b

the defendant is not entitled to apply to a magistrate or judge in that other State or Territory for an order under section 14 in relation to the offence.
16 No defence of superior orders

Subject to subsections 6(2) and 13(2), the fact that, in doing an act alleged to be an offence against this Act, a person acted under orders of his or her government or of a superior is not a defence in a proceeding for the offence, but may, if the person is convicted of the offence, be taken into account in determining the proper sentence.
17 Defence based on laws, customs and usages of war 1

This section has effect for the purposes of a proceeding for an offence against this Act.

 2

Subject to section 16, it is a defence if the doing by the defendant of the act alleged to be the offence:

 a

was permitted by the laws, customs and usages of war; and

 b

was not under international law a crime against humanity.

 3

To avoid doubt, the doing of the act by the defendant was permitted by the laws, customs and usages of war if it was reasonably justified by the exigencies and necessities of the conduct of war.

 4

The defendant is not entitled to rely on a defence under subsection (2) unless there is evidence of the existence of the facts constituting the defence.

 5

However, if there is such evidence, the onus of establishing, beyond a reasonable doubt, that those facts either do not exist or do not constitute the defence lies on the prosecution.
18 Alternative verdicts 1

This section has effect where:

 a

(a) a person (in this section called the accused) is charged with an offence (in this section called the offence charged) against this Act;

 b

the offence charged is alleged to be an act that, under the law in force in a part of at the time of the act, was, or would have been had it been done in that part at that time, an offence of a particular kind;

 c

on the accused’s trial for the offence charged, the jury:

 i

(i) is not satisfied that the accused is guilty of the offence charged but is satisfied that he or she is guilty of a different offence (in this section called the alternative offence) against this Act; and

 ii

is satisfied that the alternative offence is an act that, under the law in force in that part at the time of the last-mentioned act, was, or would have been had it been done in that part at the last-mentioned time, an offence of another kind, being an offence referred to in a paragraph of subsection 6(1); and

 d

by virtue of the law in force in that part at the time referred to in paragraph (b) or at the time of the trial, a person charged with an offence of the kind referred to in paragraph (b) could in certain circumstances be found not guilty of the last-mentioned offence but guilty of an offence of the kind referred to in subparagraph (c)(ii).

 2

The jury may find the accused not guilty of the offence charged but guilty of the alternative offence.

 3

If the jury does so, it shall, when returning its verdict, tell the judge that it is satisfied as mentioned in subparagraph (1)(c)(ii) and specify to the judge the kind of offence referred to in that subparagraph.
19 Legal assistance 1

A person who has been, or is about to be, charged with an offence against this Act may apply to the Attorney-General for assistance under this section.

 2

If the Attorney-General is satisfied that in all the circumstances it is appropriate and reasonable to grant an application made under this section, he or she may authorise the provision by the Commonwealth to the applicant of such legal or financial assistance in connection with a proceeding for the offence as the Attorney-General determines.

 3

An authorisation under subsection (2) may be made subject to such conditions (if any) as the Attorney-General determines.

 4

In considering an application made under this section, the Attorney-General shall have regard to any hardship to the applicant that refusal of the application would involve.

 5

As soon as practicable after deciding to refuse an application made under this section, the Attorney-General shall give the applicant a written notice that:

 a

sets out the decision and the reasons for it; and

 b

requests the applicant to consent in writing to a copy of the notice being laid before each House of the Parliament in accordance with subsection (6).

 6

Where an applicant gives a consent in writing pursuant to a request under subsection (5), the Attorney-General shall cause a copy of the notice to which the consent relates to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sitting days of that House after the Attorney-General receives the consent.
20 Certain provisions enacted to avoid doubt

Subsection 6(6) and section 16 are enacted to avoid doubt.
21 Reporting 1

If either or both of the following is started or carried on at any time during a financial year:

 a

an investigation of a suspected offence against this Act;

 b

a proceeding for an alleged offence against this Act;

the Attorney-General must, as soon as practicable after the end of the financial year, cause a report about the operation of this Act during the year to be prepared.

 2

The report must include the following information:

 a

the number of suspected offences against this Act under investigation during the year;

 b

the number of proceedings for alleged offences against this Act started or carried on during the year;

 c

the resources available during the year for the purposes of investigating such suspected offences and carrying on such proceedings;

 d

the anticipated timetable for finalising:

 i

investigations of such suspected offences; and

 ii

such proceedings.

 3

The Attorney-General must cause a copy of the report to be laid before each House of the Parliament within 15 sittings days of that House after the report is prepared.

Endnotes

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

The endnotes provide information about this compilation and the compiled law.

The following endnotes are included in every compilation:

Endnote 1—About the endnotes

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key

Endnote 3—Legislation history

Endnote 4—Amendment history

Abbreviation key—Endnote 2

The abbreviation key sets out abbreviations that may be used in the endnotes.

Legislation history and amendment history—Endnotes 3 and 4

Amending laws are annotated in the legislation history and amendment history.

The legislation history in endnote 3 provides information about each law that has amended (or will amend) the compiled law. The information includes commencement details for amending laws and details of any application, saving or transitional provisions that are not included in this compilation.

The amendment history in endnote 4 provides information about amendments at the provision (generally section or equivalent) level. It also includes information about any provision of the compiled law that has been repealed in accordance with a provision of the law.

Editorial changes

The Legislation Act 2003 authorises First Parliamentary Counsel to make editorial and presentational changes to a compiled law in preparing a compilation of the law for registration. The changes must not change the effect of the law. Editorial changes take effect from the compilation registration date.

If the compilation includes editorial changes, the endnotes include a brief outline of the changes in general terms. Full details of any changes can be obtained from the Office of Parliamentary Counsel.

Misdescribed amendments

A misdescribed amendment is an amendment that does not accurately describe the amendment to be made. If, despite the misdescription, the amendment can be given effect as intended, the amendment is incorporated into the compiled law and the abbreviation “(md)” added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

If a misdescribed amendment cannot be given effect as intended, the abbreviation “(md not incorp)” is added to the details of the amendment included in the amendment history.

Endnote 2—Abbreviation key
ad = added or inserted o = order(s)
am = amended Ord = Ordinance
amdt = amendment orig = original
c = clause(s) par = paragraph(s)/subparagraph(s)
C[x] = Compilation No. x /sub-subparagraph(s)
Ch = Chapter(s) pres = present
def = definition(s) prev = previous
Dict = Dictionary (prev…) = previously
disallowed = disallowed by Parliament Pt = Part(s)
Div = Division(s) r = regulation(s)/rule(s)
ed = editorial change reloc = relocated
exp = expires/expired or ceases/ceased to have renum = renumbered
effect rep = repealed
F = Federal Register of Legislation rs = repealed and substituted
gaz = gazette s = section(s)/subsection(s)
LA = Legislation Act 2003 Sch = Schedule(s)
LIA = Legislative Instruments Act 2003 Sdiv = Subdivision(s)
(md) = misdescribed amendment can be given SLI = Select Legislative Instrument
effect SR = Statutory Rules
(md not incorp) = misdescribed amendment Sub-Ch = Sub-Chapter(s)
cannot be given effect SubPt = Subpart(s)
mod = modified/modification underlining = whole or part not
No. = Number(s) commenced or to be commenced

Endnote 3—Legislation history
Act Number and year Assent Commencement Application, saving and transitional provisions
War Crimes Act 1945 48, 1945
War Crimes Amendment Act 1988 3, 1989 (s 2) —
War Crimes Amendment Act 1999 174, 1999 (s 2) —
Law and Justice Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Act 2001 24, 2001 s 4 and Sch 49: 24 May 2001 (s 2(1)(a)) s 4
Crimes Legislation Amendment (Serious and Organised Crime) Act (No. 2) 2010 4, 2010 19 Feb 2010 Sch 10 (item 31): 20 Feb 2010 (s 2(1) item 13) —
Crimes Legislation Amendment (International Crime Cooperation and Other Measures) Act 2018 34, 2018 22 May 2018 Sch 7: 23 May 2018 (s 2(1) item 8) Sch 7 (item 2)

Endnote 4—Amendment history
Provision affected How affected
Preamble rs No 3, 1989
Part I
Part I heading ad No 3, 1989
s 3 rs No 3 ,1989
s 3A ad No 24, 2001
Part II
Part II ad No 3, 1989
s 4 rs No 3, 1989
s 5 rs No 3, 1989
s 6 rs No 3, 1989
s 5 rs No 3, 1989
s 8 rs No 3, 1989
Part III
Part III ad No 3, 1989
s 9 rs No 3, 1989
am No 24, 2001; No 4, 2010
s 10 rs No 3, 1989
s 11 rs No 3, 1989
s 12 rs No 3, 1989
s 13 rs No 3, 1989
s 14 rs No 3, 1989
s 15 ad No 3, 1989
s 16 ad No 3, 1989
s 17 ad No 3, 1989
s 18 ad No 3, 1989
s 19 ad No 3, 1989
s 20 ad No 3, 1989
s 21 ad No 3, 1989
rs No 34, 2018
s 22 ad No 3, 1989
rep No 174, 1999