Committing or Threatening to Commit a Terrorist Act

Committing or threatening to commit a terrorist act is an offence under section 101.1 of the Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond reasonable doubt that:

1. You engaged in or threatened an action
2. The action was done or threatened with the intention of advancing a political, religious or ideological cause, and
3. The action was done or threatened with the intention of:

• Coercing, or influencing by intimidation, the government of the Commonwealth or a state, territory or foreign country, or part thereof, or
• Intimidating the public or a section thereof

‘An action’ includes:

1. Causing serious physical harm to a person
2. Causing serious damage to property
3. Causing death
4. Endangering another’s life
5. Creating a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or part thereof, or
6. Seriously interfering with, seriously disrupting or destroying an electronic system.

An ‘electronic system’ includes:

1. An information, telecommunications or financial system
2. A system to deliver essential government services, and
3. A system for or by an essential public utility or transport system.

‘An action’ does not include advocacy, protest, dissent or industrial action not intended to:

1. Cause death, serious physical harm or endanger another’s life, or
2. Create a serious risk to the health or safety of the public or a part thereof.

Defences to the charge include:

1. Self-defence
2. Duress, and
3. Necessity.