Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Act 1987

If a person is to be transported in custody from a foreign country through Australia to another foreign country for the purposes of:

giving evidence in a proceeding; or

giving assistance in relation to an investigation;

may be transported through Australia in the custody of another person; and

if an aircraft or ship by which the person is being transported lands or calls at a place in Australia—shall be kept in such custody as the Attorney‑General directs in writing until his or her transportation is continued.

Where a person who is being held in custody pursuant to a direction under paragraph (1)(d) and the person’s transportation is not, in the opinion of the Attorney‑General, continued within a reasonable time, the Attorney‑General may direct that the person be transported in custody to the foreign country from which the person was first transported.