Criminal Code Act 1899

When a person has been committed by a justice for sentence for an offence, the person is to be called upon to plead to the indictment in the same manner as other persons, and may plead either that the person is guilty of the offence charged in the indictment or, with the consent of the Crown, of any other offence of which the person might be convicted upon the indictment.

If the person pleads not guilty, the court, upon being satisfied that the person duly admitted before the justice that the person was guilty of the offence charged in the indictment, is to direct a plea of guilty to be entered, notwithstanding the person’s plea of not guilty.

A plea so entered has the same effect as if it had been actually pleaded.

If the court is not so satisfied, or if, notwithstanding that the accused person pleads guilty, it appears to the court upon examination of the depositions of the witnesses that the person has not in fact committed the offence charged in the indictment or any other offence of which the person might be convicted upon the indictment, the plea of not guilty is to be entered, and the trial is to proceed as in other cases when that plea is pleaded.

A person who has been committed for sentence may plead any of the other pleas mentioned in section 598.