Criminal Code Act 1899

Any person who assaults any person with intent to steal anything, and, at or immediately before or immediately after the time of the assault, uses or threatens to use actual violence to any person or property in order to obtain the thing intended to be stolen, or to prevent or overcome resistance to its being stolen, is guilty of a crime, and is liable to imprisonment for 7 years.

If the offender is or pretends to be armed with any dangerous or offensive weapon or instrument, or is in company with 1 or more other person or persons, the offender is liable to imprisonment for 14 years.

If the offender is armed with any dangerous or offensive weapon, instrument or noxious substance, and at or immediately before or immediately after the time of the assault the offender wounds, or uses other personal violence to, any person by the weapon, instrument or noxious substance, the offender is liable to imprisonment for life.

The Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, section 161Q also states a circumstance of aggravation for an offence against this section.

An indictment charging an offence against this section with the circumstance of aggravation stated in the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992, section 161Q may not be presented without the consent of a Crown Law Officer. sch 1 pt 6 div 1 ch 38 s 412 amd 1986 No. 1 s 29; 1988 No. 88 s 5 sch 2; 1997 No. 3 s 68; 2016 No. 62 s 130