Document ID: chunk:federal_register_of_legislation:C2018C00190:section:23
Version: federal_register_of_legislation:C2018C00190
Segment Type: section
Provision Reference: s 23
Character Range: 41831–43082

23  Prosecutions
 (1) Offences against this Act, other than an offence against subsection 7(1) or subsection 16(1), are punishable on summary conviction.
 (2) Proceedings for:
 (a) the commitment of a person for trial on indictment for an offence against this Act; or
 (b) the summary prosecution of an offence against this Act;
shall be instituted only with the consent in writing of the Director of Public Prosecutions, or of a person, or of a person included in a class of persons, authorized by the Director of Public Prosecutions, by writing, to give such consents.
 (3) Notwithstanding that a consent has not been given in relation to an offence in accordance with subsection (2):
 (a) a person may be charged with an offence against this Act;
 (b) a warrant for the arrest of a person for such an offence may be issued;
 (c) a person may be arrested for such an offence; and
 (d) a person charged with such an offence may be remanded in custody or on bail;
but no further step in proceedings of a kind referred to in that subsection shall be taken in relation to the offence until such a consent has been obtained.
 (4) Nothing in subsection (2) prevents the discharge of the accused if proceedings are not continued within a reasonable time.