Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) A request by a foreign country for international assistance in a criminal matter may be made to the Attorney - General or a person authorised by the Attorney - General, in writing, to receive requests by foreign countries under this Act.
(2) A request must be in writing and must include or be accompanied by the following information:
(a) the name of the authority concerned with the criminal matter to which the request relates;
(b) a description of the nature of the criminal matter and a statement setting out a summary of the relevant facts and laws;
(c) a description of the purpose of the request and of the nature of the assistance being sought;
(d) any information that may assist in giving effect to the request.
However, a failure to comply with this subsection is not a ground for refusing the request.
(3) Where a request by a foreign country is made to a person authorised under subsection (1), the request shall be taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been made to the Attorney - General.
(4) If a foreign country makes a request to a court in Australia for international assistance in a criminal matter:
(a) the court must refer the request to the Attorney - General; and
(b) the request is then taken, for the purposes of this Act, to have been made to the Attorney - General.