Policy Guideline issued by the Attorney-General – consent to prosecution considerations – Hizballah

Policy guideline – factors to be considered by the Attorney-General when considering whether to consent to the prosecution of terrorist organisation offences in relation to Hizballah.

The Australian Government does not condone the actions of groups that use terrorism to achieve their political, religious or ideological objectives. Australia has a comprehensive suite of laws in response to terrorism. These laws not only target terrorist acts, but also the organisations that plan, finance and carry out such acts.

Offences relating to terrorist organisations are set out in Division 102 of the Criminal Code.^[1] Under that Division, a terrorist organisation is an organisation that:

• is directly or indirectly engaged in preparing, planning, assisting in or fostering the doing of a terrorist act; or
• has been listed in regulations as a terrorist organisation.

Division 102 includes offences for providing support to a terrorist organisation, providing or receiving funds from a terrorist organisation, and associating with a terrorist organisation. Further detail on the terrorist organisation offences is available on the website of the Attorney-General’s Department. A list of terrorist organisations, and a factsheet on the offences, is available on the Australian National Security website.

Listing of Hizballah

On 9 December 2021, Hizballah was listed as a terrorist organisation under the Criminal Code, after the Minister for Home Affairs was satisfied that the organisation meets the criteria for listing, as set out in section 102.1 of the Criminal Code.^[2] A statement of reasons in support of the listing is available.^[3]

On 9 December 2021, the Attorney-General issued a ministerial direction to the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP), under subsection 8(1) of the Director of Public Prosecutions Act 1983.^[4] The effect of this direction is to provide that the CDPP must seek the Attorney-General’s consent in order to institute proceedings for the commitment for trial of a person for an offence under Division 102 of the Criminal Code, where the alleged offending relates to the person’s conduct in connection with Hizballah.

Purpose of the policy

This policy provides guidance on the factors that the Attorney-General will take into account when deciding whether to consent to the prosecution of a person where the alleged offending relates to the person’s conduct in connection with Hizballah.

Given Hizballah’s linkages and involvement in Lebanon, there may be reasons why a person may need to engage with Hizballah that are not related to terrorism. Hizballah has social and political functions, holds seats in Lebanon’s government and provides social services in some areas of Lebanon. The requirement for the Attorney-General’s consent to a prosecution of offences relating to Hizballah is intended to provide an additional safeguard to ensure that prosecutions only proceed where they are in Australia’s national interest. It is not the intention of the Australian Government to prosecute Australians engaged in daily activities not connected with terrorism or terrorist acts.

In addition to the Attorney-General’s consent requirement, the CDPP must also be satisified that a prosecution would be in the public interest. The CDPP makes this decision in accordance with the Prosecution Policy of the Commonwealth, and in particular, the public interest factors set out in paragraph 2.10.^[5]

Factors to be considered

In deciding whether to consent to a prosecution of a person for terrorist organisation offences in relation to Hizballah, the Attorney-General will consider the circumstances of each individual case.

In considering whether to consent to a prosecution, the Attorney-General will consider whether the conduct directly or indirectly assisted Hizballah to engage in, prepare, plan, assist in, or foster the doing of a terrorist act, and whether the person intended that it would do so, or was reckless as to that fact. The Attorney-General may be less likely to consent to a prosecution where this is not the case.

The Attorney-General will consider whether prosecution would be in Australia’s national interest, having regard to any relevant matters of national security, defence, international relations and economic well-being.

The Attorney-General may consider any other matter which she considers relevant.

Without limiting the discretion of the Attorney-General, examples of conduct where consent is unlikely to be granted may include:

• paying taxes to the Government of Lebanon or any sub-national government within Lebanon
• accessing or paying for food, medicine, education or fuel provided by Hizballah
• voting for Hizballah in an election
• sending remittances to a member of Hizballah for their personal education, health and/or basic living expenses
• being engaged in employment by Hizballah in a capacity where responsibilities are not linked to the preparation or planning of terrorist acts, and
• selling goods or providing services to Hizballah where the goods or services are not linked to the preparation or planning of terrorist acts;

where such conduct does not indirectly or directly assist Hizballah to engage in, prepare, plan, assist in, or foster the doing of a terrorist act.^[6]

Individuals should seek independent legal advice on their circumstances.

It should also be considered that, as Hizballah is a listed entity under Australian sanctions law, there are offences which apply to dealing with assets owned or controlled by Hizballah, and making assets available to Hizballah, either directly or indirectly.^[7]

1. Criminal Code Act 1995
2. Listing instrument
3. Statement of Reasons
4. Ministerial Direction
5. Prosecution Policy | Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (cdpp.gov.au)
6. Conduct of the kind listed may not necessarily fall within the scope of the terrorist organisation offences. The inclusion of conduct in this Guideline does not reflect a view of the Australian Government that it would be in breach of the Criminal Code. These examples are included to provide assurance on activities which are unlikely to be prosecuted as terrorist organisation offences.
7. Information on Australia’s sanctions regimes is available on the website of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, What You Need to Know | Australian Government Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (dfat.gov.au).