Queensland Consolidated Acts

CRIMINAL CODE 1899 - SECT 415

415 Extortion

(1) A person (the
"demander" ) who, without reasonable cause, makes a demand—

(a) with intent to—

(i) gain a benefit for any person (whether or not the demander); or

(ii) cause a detriment to any person other than the demander; and

(b) with a threat to cause a detriment to any person other than the demander;

commits a crime.

Penalty—

Maximum penalty—

(a) if carrying out the threat causes, or would be likely to cause, serious personal injury to a person other than the offender—life imprisonment; or

(b) if carrying out the threat causes, or would be likely to cause, substantial economic loss in an industrial or commercial activity conducted by a person or entity other than the offender (whether the activity is conducted by a public authority or as a private enterprise)—life imprisonment; or

(c) otherwise—14 years imprisonment.

(1A) The Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 , section 161Q also states a circumstance of aggravation for an offence against this section.

(2) It is immaterial that—

(a) the demand or threat is made in a way ordinarily used to inform the public rather than a particular person; or

(b) the threat does not specify the detriment to be caused; or

(c) the threat does not specify the person to whom the detriment is to be caused or specifies this in a general way; or

Example—

a threat to cause a detriment to the public or any members of the public

(d) the detriment is to be caused by someone other than the demander.

(3) A reference to making a demand includes causing someone to receive a demand.

(4) A reference to a threat to cause a detriment to any person other than the demander includes a statement that gives rise to a threat of detriment to the other person.

(5) A prosecution for an offence in which it is intended to rely on a circumstance of aggravation mentioned in paragraph (a) or (b) of the penalty can not be commenced without the consent of the Attorney-General.

(5A) An indictment charging an offence against this section with the circumstance of aggravation stated in the Penalties and Sentences Act 1992 , section 161Q may not be presented without the consent of a Crown Law Officer.

(6) In this section—

"threat" includes a statement that may reasonably be interpreted as a threat.