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MARITIME TRANSPORT AND OFFSHORE FACILITIES SECURITY ACT 2003 - SECT 18

General defences

Ship master's decisions

  (1)   A person does not commit an offence against this Act if:

  (a)   a physical element of the offence exists (whether directly or indirectly) because the master of a ship engaged in conduct in the operation or control of the ship; and

  (b)   without the existence of that physical element the person would not commit the offence; and

  (c)   the master engaged in the conduct to protect the safety or security of:

  (i)   the ship; or

  (ii)   the ship's cargo; or

  (iii)   a person (whether on board the ship or not); or

  (iv)   another ship; or

  (v)   a port, or a port facility or other installation within a port; or

  (vi)   an offshore facility; and

  (d)   the conduct was reasonable in the circumstances.

Note:   A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in subsection   (1) (see subsection   13.3(3) of the Criminal Code ).

Security directions

  (2)   If:

  (a)   a person is required to comply with a security direction; and

  (b)   compliance with the direction would mean that the person commits an offence against, or otherwise contravenes a requirement of, this Act;

the person, in complying with the security direction, is taken not to have committed the offence or contravened the requirement.

Note:   A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in subsection   (2) (see subsection   13.3(3) of the Criminal Code ).

Control directions

  (3)   If:

  (a)   a person is required to comply with a control direction; and

  (b)   compliance with the direction would mean that the person commits an offence against, or otherwise contravenes a requirement of, this Act;

the person, in complying with the control direction, is taken not to have committed the offence or contravened the requirement.

Note:   A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matters in subsection   (3) (see subsection   13.3(3) of the Criminal Code ).



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