Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Regulations 2001 (No. 1)1
Statutory Rules 2001 No. 3282
I, PETER JOHN HOLLINGWORTH, Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia, acting with the advice of the Federal Executive Council, make the following Regulations under the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Amendment Act 1999 and the Public Service Act 1999.
Dated 6 December 2001
PETER HOLLINGWORTH
Governor-General
By His Excellency’s Command
BILL HEFFERNAN
Parliamentary Secretary to Cabinet

Contents
	1	Name of Regulations	2
	2	Commencement	2
	3	Amendment of Merit Protection (Australian Government Employees) Regulations	2
	4	Amendment of Public Service Regulations 1999	2
Schedule 1	Amendments of Merit Protection (Australian Government Employees) Regulations	3
Schedule 2	Amendments of Public Service Regulations 1999	5

1	Name of Regulations
		These Regulations are the Prime Minister and Cabinet Legislation Amendment (Application of Criminal Code) Regulations 2001 (No. 1).
2	Commencement
		These Regulations commence on 15 December 2001.
3	Amendment of Merit Protection (Australian Government Employees) Regulations
		Schedule 1 amends the Merit Protection (Australian Government Employees) Regulations, as continued in force by subregulation 4.2 (4) of the Public Employment (Consequential and Transitional) Regulations 1999.
4	Amendment of Public Service Regulations 1999
		Schedule 2 amends the Public Service Regulations 1999.

Schedule 1	Amendments of Merit Protection (Australian Government Employees) Regulations
(regulation 3)
[1]	Subregulation 18 (1)
omit
, without reasonable excuse
[2]	After subregulation 18 (1), including the note
insert
	(1A)	Subregulation (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note   A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subregulation (1A) (see subsection 13.3 (3) of the Criminal Code).
	(1B)	Strict liability applies to paragraph (1) (a).
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
[3]	Subregulation 30A (1)
omit
, without reasonable excuse
[4]	After subregulation 30A (1), including the note
insert
	(1A)	Subregulation (1) does not apply if the person has a reasonable excuse.
Note   A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subregulation (1A) (see subsection 13.3 (3) of the Criminal Code).
	(1B)	Strict liability applies to paragraph (1) (a).
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.

Schedule 2	Amendments of Public Service Regulations 1999
(regulation 4)
[1]	Regulation 4.12
omit
A person
insert
	(1)	A person
[2]	Regulation 4.12
insert
	(2)	Strict liability applies to the physical element of an offence against subregulation (1) that the functions being carried out by the ISAC were functions under this Part.
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
[3]	Regulation 5.21
omit
A person
insert
	(1)	A person
[4]	Regulation 5.21
insert
	(2)	Strict liability applies to the physical element of an offence against subregulation (1) that the functions being carried out by the PRC were functions under this Division.
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
[5]	Regulation 5.37
omit
A person
insert
	(1)	A person
[6]	Regulation 5.37
insert
	(2)	Strict liability applies to the physical element of an offence against subregulation (1) that the functions being carried out by the person or committee were functions under this Division.
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
[7]	After subregulation 6.3 (2), including the penalty
insert
	(2A)	Strict liability applies to the following physical elements of an offence against subregulation (2):
	(a)	that the duties performed by the person were duties as a person described in subregulation (1);
	(b)	that the information was disclosed or obtained under paragraph 41 (1) (c) of the Act.
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
[8]	After subregulation 7.6 (2), including the penalty
insert
	(2A)	Strict liability applies to the following physical elements of an offence against subregulation (2):
	(a)	that the duties performed by the person were duties as a person described in subregulation (1);
	(b)	that the information was disclosed or obtained under section 33 or paragraph 50 (1) (a) of the Act;
	(c)	that the investigation was under regulation 7.2;
	(d)	that the review was under regulation 7.3.
Note   For strict liability, see section 6.1 of the Criminal Code.
Notes
1.	These Regulations amend (in Schedule 1) Statutory Rules 1985 No. 176, as amended by 1985 No. 380; 1986 No. 3; 1987 Nos. 91 and 330; 1989 Nos. 351 and 411; 1995 No. 247.
	These Regulations also amend (in Schedule 2) Statutory Rules 1999 No. 300, as amended by 2000 No. 359.
2.	Notified in the Commonwealth of Australia Gazette on 13 December 2001.