Criminal Code Act 1983

Except as hereinafter stated after the jury has been empanelled and the charge has been stated to the jury by the proper officer, the jurors must not separate until they have given their verdict or are discharged by the court and no person except the officer of the court who has charge of them is to be allowed to speak to or communicate with any of them without the leave of the court until they are discharged.

The court may, if the court considers it appropriate to do so, permit the jury to separate for any specified period during an adjournment of the court.

The court may give any direction for the conduct of the jury in relation to the separation.

If any person disobeys the directions of this section he may be punished summarily as for contempt of court.

The validity of the proceedings is not affected by any such disobedience but, if the fact is discovered before the verdict is given, the court, if it is of opinion that such disobedience is likely to prejudice the fair trial of the charge, may discharge the jury and may direct that a fresh jury be empanelled during the same sittings of the court or may adjourn the trial.