Surveillance Devices Act 1999

S. 3(1) def. of ambulance officer inserted by No. 54/2017 s. 3.

ambulance officer means an operational staff member within the meaning of the Ambulance Services Act 1986;

S. 3(1) def. of applicant inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

applicant for a warrant, means the law enforcement officer who applies, or on whose behalf an application is made, for the warrant;

assistance order means an order made under section 22;

S. 3(1) def. of Australian Crime Commission inserted by No. 29/2006 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 36.2).

Australian Crime Commission means Australian Crime Commission established by the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 of the Commonwealth;

authorised police officer means a person appointed by the Chief Commissioner of Police under subsection (2);

S. 3(1) def. of body-worn camera inserted by No. 54/2017 s. 3.

body-worn camera means a camera normally worn on the person that is capable of recording visual images or sound or both, whether or not the camera is being worn when the recording takes place;

building includes any structure;

S. 3(1) def. of business day inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

business day means a day other than a Saturday, a Sunday or a public holiday appointed under the Public Holidays Act 1993;

S. 3(1) def. of chief law enforcement officer amended by Nos 18/2002 s. 24(1)(a), 52/2003 s. 52(Sch. 1 item 11(1)(a)), 56/2003 s. 8(1)(a), 104/2003 s. 7, 63/2004 s. 9(1)(b), substituted as def. of chief officer by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(b) (as amended by No. 63/2004 s. 13(2)(a)), amended by Nos 13/2012 s. 13(1)(a) (2)(a), 24/2014 s. 82(2), 27/2016 s. 40(1)(a), 68/2016 s. 171(b), 39/2018 s. 55(1)(b), 50/2021 s. 144(2)(a), 31/2023 s. 68(a), 41/2025 s. 4(Sch. 2 item 27.1(a)).

chief officer means—

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S. 3(1) def. of Commis-sioner inserted by No. 13/2012 s. 13(1)(e).

Commissioner has the same meaning as it has in section 3(1) of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011;

S. 3(1) def. of Common-wealth Ombudsman inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a) (as amended by No. 27/2006 s. 21(1)).

Commonwealth Ombudsman means the person holding office as the Commonwealth Ombudsman under the Ombudsman Act 1976 of the Commonwealth;

computer means any electronic device for storing or processing information;

S. 3(1) def. of corres-ponding emergency authorisation inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

corresponding emergency authorisation means an authorisation in the nature of an emergency authorisation given under the provisions of a corresponding law, being an authorisation in relation to a relevant offence within the meaning of that corresponding law;

S. 3(1) def. of corres-ponding law inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

corresponding law means a law of another jurisdiction that—

S. 3(1) def. of corres-ponding warrant inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

corresponding warrant means a warrant in the nature of a surveillance device warrant or retrieval warrant issued under the provisions of a corresponding law, being a warrant in relation to a relevant offence within the meaning of that corresponding law;

data surveillance device means any device capable of being used to record or monitor the input of information into or the output of information from a computer, but does not include an optical surveillance device;

device includes instrument, apparatus and equipment;

S. 3(1) def. of Director inserted by No. 63/2004 s. 9(1)(a), amended by No. 34/2008 s. 143(Sch. 2 item 11(a)), repealed by No. 13/2012 s. 13(2)(b).

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disciplinary proceedings means proceedings of a disciplinary nature under an Act of Victoria, the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth;

emergency authorisation means an emergency authorisation given under Division 3 of Part 4;

enhancement equipment, in relation to a surveillance device, means equipment capable of enhancing a signal, image or other information obtained by the use of the surveillance device;

S. 3(1) def. of Environment Protection Authority inserted by No. 39/2018 s. 55(1)(a).

Environment Protection Authority has the same meaning as Authority in section 3(1) of the Environment Protection Act 2017;

S. 3(1) def. of Game Management Authority inserted by No. 24/2014 s. 82(1).

Game Management Authority means the Game Management Authority established under Part 2 of the Game Management Authority Act 2014;

S. 3(1) def. of IBAC inserted by No. 13/2012 s. 13(1)(e).

IBAC means the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission established under the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011;

install includes attach;

S. 3(1) def. of Integrity Oversight Victoria inserted by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 37.1(a)).

Integrity Oversight Victoria has the same meaning as in the Integrity Oversight Victoria Act 2011;

S. 3(1) def. of jurisdiction inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

jurisdiction means a State or Territory of the Commonwealth;

S. 3(1) def. of law enforcement agency inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a) (as amended by No. 63/2004 s. 13(1)(a)), amended by Nos 13/2012 s. 13(1)(b) (2)(c), 24/2014 s. 82(3), 27/2016 s. 40(1)(b), 68/2016 s. 171(c), 39/2018 s. 55(1)(c), 50/2021 s. 144(2)(b), 31/2023 s. 68(b), 41/2025 s. 4(Sch. 2 item 27.1(b)).

law enforcement agency means the following agencies—

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S. 3(1) def. of law enforcement officer amended by Nos 52/2003 s. 52(Sch. 1 item 11(1)(b)), 63/2004 s. 9(1)(c), substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(c) (as amended by No. 63/2004 s. 13(2)(b)), amended by Nos 13/2012 s. 13(1)(c) (2)(d), 24/2014 s. 82(4), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 163.1(a)(ii)), 27/2016 s. 40(1)(c), 68/2016 s. 171(d), 39/2018 s. 55(1)(d), 50/2021 s. 144(2)(c), 31/2023 s. 68(c), 41/2025 s. 4(Sch. 2 item 27.1(c)).

law enforcement officer means—

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S. 3(1) def. of listening device substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(d).

listening device means any device capable of being used to overhear, record, monitor or listen to a conversation or words spoken to or by any person in conversation, but does not include a hearing aid or similar device used by a person with impaired hearing to overcome the impairment and permit that person to hear only sounds ordinarily audible to the human ear;

maintain, in relation to a surveillance device, includes—

S. 3(1) def. of member of the police force substituted as def. of member by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(e), repealed by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 163.1(a)(iii)).

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S. 3(1) def. of National Crime Authority substituted as Australian Crime Commission by No. 52/2003 s. 52(Sch. 1 item 11(1)(c)), repealed by No. 29/2006 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 36.1).

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offence means offence against the law of Victoria, the Commonwealth or another State or a Territory of the Commonwealth;

S. 3(1) def. of Office of Police Integrity inserted by No. 63/2004 s. 9(1)(a), amended by No. 34/2008 s. 143(Sch. 2 item 11(b)), repealed by No. 13/2012 s. 13(2)(b).

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S. 3(1) def. of Office of the Special Investigator inserted by No. 50/2021 s. 144(1), repealed by No. 31/2023 s. 68(d).

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S. 3(1) def. of optical surveillance device substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(f).

optical surveillance device means any device capable of being used to record visually or observe an activity, but does not include spectacles, contact lenses or a similar device used by a person with impaired sight to overcome that impairment;

S. 3(1) def. of participating jurisdiction inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

participating jurisdiction means a jurisdiction in which a corresponding law is in force;

party—

S. 3(1) def. of police officer inserted by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 163.1 (a)(i)).

police officer has the same meaning as in the Victoria Police Act 2013;

S. 3(1) def. of premises substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(g).

premises includes—

whether in or outside this jurisdiction;

S. 3(1) def. of prescribed IBAC Officer inserted by No. 13/2012 s. 13(1)(e).

prescribed IBAC Officer means a sworn IBAC Officer within the meaning of section 3(1) of the Independent Broad-based Anti-corruption Commission Act 2011 who holds a position, or is a member of a class, that is prescribed by the regulations for the purposes of this definition;

S. 3(1) def. of prescribed member of staff of the Office of Police Integrity inserted by No. 63/2004 s. 9(1)(a), amended by No. 63/2004 s. 12 (as amended by No. 29/2006 s. 3(Sch. 1 item 21)), repealed by No. 13/2012 s. 13(2)(b).

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private activity means an activity carried on in circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that the parties to it desire it to be observed only by themselves, but does not include—

private conversation means a conversation carried on in circumstances that may reasonably be taken to indicate that the parties to it desire it to be heard only by themselves, but does not include a conversation made in any circumstances in which the parties to it ought reasonably to expect that it may be overheard by someone else;

S. 3(1) def. of protected information inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

protected information has the meaning given in section 30D;

S. 3(1) def. of Public Interest Monitor inserted by No. 72/2011 s. 30.

Public Interest Monitor means a Public Interest Monitor within the meaning of the Public Interest Monitor Act 2011;

S. 3(1) def. of public officer inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

public officer means a person employed by, or holding an office established by or under a law of, this jurisdiction or a person employed by a public authority of this jurisdiction, and includes a law enforcement officer;

S. 3(1) def. of public place inserted by No. 25/2009 s. 34(a).

public place has the same meaning as it has in section 3 of the Summary Offences Act 1966;

S. 3(1) def. of record amended by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(h).

record includes—

S. 3(1) def. of relevant application inserted by No. 72/2011 s. 30.

relevant application means an application referred to in section 12A;

S. 3(1) def. of relevant offence inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

relevant offence means—

S. 3(1) def. of relevant proceeding inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a), amended by No. 77/2008 s. 129(Sch. 2 item 25).

relevant proceeding means—

relevant warrant, in relation to an assistance order, means the warrant in relation to which the order is applied for;

S. 3(1) def. of remote application inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a), repealed by No. 55/2025 s. 90.

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S. 3(1) def. of report amended by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(i).

report, in relation to a conversation or activity, includes a report of the substance, meaning or purport of the conversation or activity;

S. 3(1) def. of retrieval warrant inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

retrieval warrant means a warrant issued under Subdivision 3 of Division 1 of Part 4;

S. 3(1) def. of Secretary repealed by No. 56/2003 s. 8(1)(b).

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S. 3(1) def. of senior law enforcement officer amended by Nos 18/2002 s. 24(1)(b), 52/2003 s. 52(Sch. 1 item 11(1)(d)), 56/2003 s. 8(1)(c), 63/2004 s. 9(1)(d), substituted as def. of senior officer by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(j) (as amended by No. 63/2004 s. 13(2)(c)), amended by Nos 13/2012 s. 13(1)(d) (2)(e), 24/2014 s. 82(5), 27/2016 s. 40(1)(d), 68/2016 s. 171(e), 39/2018 s. 55(1)(e), 50/2021 s. 144(2)(d), 31/2023 s. 68(e), 41/2025 s. 4(Sch. 2 item 27.1(d)).

senior officer means—

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S. 3(1) def. of serious drug offence amended by Nos 61/2001 s. 16(2)(a)–(d), 35/2002 s. 28(Sch. item 6.1(a)(b)), 3/2019 s. 22.

serious drug offence means an offence against any of the following sections of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981—

or an offence against any of the following provisions of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances Act 1981 as in force immediately before the commencement of the Drugs, Poisons and Controlled Substances (Amendment) Act 2001—

S. 3(1) def. of Special Investigations Monitor inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a) (as amended by No. 63/2004 s. 13(1)(d)), repealed by No. 82/2012 s. 138(2).

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S. 3(1) def. of Special Investigator inserted by No. 50/2021 s. 144(1), repealed by No. 31/2023 s. 68(f).

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S. 3(1) def. of surveillance device substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(k).

surveillance device means—

S. 3(1) def. of surveillance device warrant inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

surveillance device warrant means a warrant issued under Subdivision 2 of Division 1 of Part 4 or under section 30(3);

S. 3(1) def. of tablet computer inserted by No. 54/2017 s. 3.

tablet computer means a mobile computer that contains a camera and a microphone;

S. 3(1) def. of this jurisdiction inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

this jurisdiction means Victoria;

tracking device means an electronic device the primary purpose of which is to determine the geographical location of a person or an object;

S. 3(1) def. of unsworn application inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

unsworn application for a warrant, means an application referred to in section 15(5) or 20C(5);

S. 3(1) def. of use inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a).

use of a surveillance device includes use of the device to record a conversation or other activity;

S. 3(1) def. of vehicle amended by No. 25/2009 s. 34(b).

vehicle includes motor vehicle, aircraft and vessel;

S. 3(1) def. of Victoria Police inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(a), repealed by No. 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 163.1 (a)(iii)).

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S. 3(1) def. of Victorian Fisheries Authority inserted by No. 68/2016 s. 171(a).

Victorian Fisheries Authority means the Victorian Fisheries Authority established under Part 2 of the Victorian Fisheries Authority Act 2016;

S. 3(1) def. of Victorian Inspectorate inserted by No. 82/2012 s. 138(1), repealed by No. 31/2024 s. 113(Sch. 1 item 37.1(b)).

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S. 3(1) def. of warrant substituted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(1)(l).

warrant (except in sections 33, 34 and 35) means surveillance device warrant or retrieval warrant.

S. 3(2) amended by Nos 26/2004 s. 5(2)(a), 37/2014 s. 10(Sch. item 163.1(b)).

S. 3(3) amended by No. 26/2004 s. 5(2)(b).

S. 3(4) amended by No. 26/2004 s. 5(2)(c).

S. 3(5) substituted by No. 56/2003 s. 8(2), amended by Nos 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 195), 26/2004 s. 5(2)(d), repealed by No. 27/2016 s. 40(2).

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S. 3(6) inserted by No. 56/2003 s. 8(2), amended by Nos 108/2004 s. 117(1) (Sch. 3 item 195), 26/2004 s. 5(2)(e), repealed by No. 27/2016 s. 40(2).

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S. 3(7) inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(3).

Note

Subsection (7) is intended to cover the situation where an officer of this jurisdiction is conducting or participating in an investigation wholly in another jurisdiction for the purposes of an offence of this jurisdiction (eg: a Victorian officer is investigating a conspiracy to import drugs into Victoria from NSW, and all the evidence of the offence is in NSW).

S. 3(8) inserted by No. 26/2004 s. 5(4).