Hart v Commissioner, Australian Federal Police [2002] FCAFC 392

FEDERAL COURT OF AUSTRALIA

Hart v Commissioner, Australian Federal Police [2002] FCAFC 392 STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – search warrants – Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 3E, 3F – whether "strict construction" required of legislation authorising search warrants – whether legislation "penal" in character – approach to construction. CRIMINAL LAW – search warrants – nature of "seizure" – Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 3K, 3L – seizure distinct from removal of things from premises to determine whether they can be seized – whether downloading of material in electronic form a seizure of the information – expiration of power of seizure – whether power to remove things to determine whether they can be seized survives expiration of warrant – whether copying of electronic information means that the information has "moved" from the search premises. STATUTORY CONSTRUCTION – whether s 3K(2) of the Crimes Act 1914 (Cth) is subject to an implied qualification that an examination can take place within a reasonable period. WORDS AND PHRASES – "seizure", "moved", "warrant that is in force". Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), ss 3C, 3E, 3F, 3K, 3L, 3N, 3Q. Federal Court Rules, O 52 rr 14, 22(3) Crimes (Search Warrants and Powers of Arrest) Amendment Act 1994 (Cth) Cybercrime Act 2001 (Cth) Chambers Science and Technology Dictionary (1988) Prentice Hall's Illustrated Dictionary of Computing (2nd ed, 1995) Harts Australia Ltd v Commissioner, Australian Federal Police (1996) 141 ALR 493, referred to. Harts Australia Ltd v Australian Federal Police (1997) 75 FCR 145, cited. Harts Australia Ltd v Commissioner, Australian Federal Police (2002) 49 ATR 427, referred to. Harts Australia Ltd v Commissioner, Australian Federal Police (2001) 65 ALD 463, referred to. Williams v Keelty (2001) 111 FCR 175, cited. Project Blue Sky Inc v Australian Broadcasting Authority (1998) 194 CLR 355, cited. Commissioner for Railways (NSW) v Agalianos (1955) 92 CLR 390, cited. Rogers v Moore (1992) 39 FCR 201, cited. R v Inland Revenue Commissioners; Ex parte Rossminster Ltd [1980] AC 952, cited. George v Rockett (1990) 170 CLR 104, cited. Karina Fisheries Pty Ltd v Mitson (19990) 26 FCR 473, cited. Scott v Cawsey (1907) 5 CLR 132, cited. Beckwith v R (1976) 153 CLR 569, cited. Potter v Minahan (1908) 7 CLR 277, cited. Bropho v State of Western Australia (1990) 171 CLR 1, cited. Coco v The Queen (1994) 179 CLR 427, cited. Dunesky v Commonwealth (1996) 89 A Crim R 372, cited. Baker v Campbell (1985) 153 CLR 52, cited. Crowley v Murphy (1981) 53 FLR 123, cited. Trimboli v Onley (No 3) (1981) 56 FLR 321, cited. Reynolds v Metropolitan Police Commissioner [1985] 1 QB 881, cited. Allitt v Sullivan [1988] VR 621, cited. Bartlett v Weir (1994) 71 A Crim R 11, cited. Island Way Pty Ltd v Redmond (1990) 1 QD R 431, cited. Johnston & Co v Hogg (1883) 10 QBD 432, cited. Scott v Gere [1988] WAR 377, cited. Whim Creek Consolidated NL v Colgan (1991) 31 FCR 469, cited. R v Adams (1980) 1 QB 575, cited. Johns v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 178 CLR 408, cited. Mercantile Mutual Life Insurance Co Ltd v Australian Securities Commission (1993) 40 FCR 409, cited. Moore v Attorney-General (Irish Free State) [1935] AC 484, cited. R v Bevan; Ex parte Elias and Gordon (1942) 66 CLR 452, cited. Brown v West (1990) 169 CLR 195, cited.