Criminal Code Act 1995

A person (the perpetrator) commits an offence if the perpetrator:

engages in conduct that inflicts severe physical or mental pain or suffering on a person (the victim); and

the conduct is engaged in:

for the purpose of obtaining from the victim or from a third person information or a confession; or

for the purpose of punishing the victim for an act which the victim or a third person has committed or is suspected of having committed; or

for the purpose of intimidating or coercing the victim or a third person; or

for a purpose related to a purpose mentioned in subparagraph (i), (ii) or (iii); and

the perpetrator engages in the conduct:

in the capacity of a public official; or

acting in an official capacity; or

acting at the instigation, or with the consent or acquiescence, of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.

A person (the perpetrator) commits an offence if the perpetrator:

engages in conduct that inflicts severe physical or mental pain or suffering on a person; and

the conduct is engaged in for any reason based on discrimination of any kind; and

the perpetrator engages in the conduct:

in the capacity of a public official; or

acting in an official capacity; or

acting at the instigation, or with the consent or acquiescence, of a public official or other person acting in an official capacity.

Absolute liability applies to paragraphs (1)(c) and (2)(c).

For absolute liability, see section 6.2.

Subsections (1) and (2) do not apply to conduct arising only from, inherent in or incidental to lawful sanctions that are not inconsistent with the Articles of the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (a copy of the English text of which is set out in Schedule 2 to the Australian Human Rights Commission Act 1986).

Section 15.4 (extended geographical jurisdiction—category D) applies to an offence against subsection (1) or (2).