Commonwealth Consolidated Acts Commonwealth Consolidated Acts(1) For the purpose of protecting evidence that might be relevant to an investigation, the Chief Commissioner may direct that specified things, or things in a specified class of things, must not be removed or interfered with except with the permission of the Chief Commissioner.
(2) The Chief Commissioner may revoke or vary such a direction.
(3) A person must not contravene such a direction.
Penalty: Imprisonment for 12 months.
(4) Subsection (3) does not apply if the conduct concerned was necessary:
(a) to ensure the safety of persons, animals or property; or
(b) to remove deceased persons or animals from an accident site; or
(c) to move a transport vehicle, or the wreckage of a transport vehicle, to a safe place; or
(d) to protect the environment from significant damage or pollution.
Note: A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in subsection (4). See subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code .
(5) The Chief Commissioner must not unreasonably withhold a permission under subsection (1).