Criminal Code 2002

A person commits an offence if—

the person gives information to someone else; and

the information is false or misleading; and

the person knows that the information—

is false or misleading; or

omits anything without which the information is false or misleading; and

any of the following applies:

the person to whom the information is given is the Territory;

the person to whom the information is given is a person who is exercising a function under a territory law;

the information is given in compliance or purported compliance with a territory law.

Maximum penalty: 100 penalty units, imprisonment for 1 year or both.

Absolute liability applies to subsection (1) (d) (i), (ii) and (iii).

Subsection (1) (b) and (c) (i) does not apply if the information is not false or misleading in a material particular.

Subsection (1) (b) and (c) (ii) does not apply if the omission does not make the information false or misleading in a material particular.

Subsection (1) (d) (i) does not apply if, before the information was given by the person to the Territory, the Territory did not take reasonable steps to tell the person about the existence of the offence against subsection (1).

Subsection (1) (d) (ii) does not apply if, before the information was given by a person (A) to the person mentioned in that subparagraph (B), B did not take reasonable steps to tell A about the existence of the offence against subsection (1).

For subsections (5) and (6), it is sufficient if the following form of words is used:

‘Giving false or misleading information is a serious offence’.

In this section:

Territory—see section 319.