South Australian Numbered Acts

STATUTES AMENDMENT AND REPEAL (AGGRAVATED OFFENCES) ACT 2005 (NO 62 OF 2005) - SECT 28

28—Substitution of section 7A

Section 7A—delete the section and substitute:

7A—Obstructing or disturbing religious services etc

        (1)         A person who intentionally—

            (a)         obstructs or disturbs—

                  (i)         a religious service; or

                  (ii)         a wedding or funeral (whether secular or religious); or

            (b)         obstructs or disturbs persons proceeding to or from a religious service, wedding or funeral in a way that is calculated to be offensive and is related in some way to their attendance, or intention to attend, the religious service, wedding or funeral,

is guilty of an offence.

Maximum penalty: $10 000 or imprisonment for 2 years.

        (2)         In this section—

"religion" means any philosophy or system of belief that is generally recognised in the Australian community as being of a religious nature;

"religious service" means a lawful assembly of the adherents of any religion for the purpose of prayer or any other form of religious observance.