Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 2) 2023

✦ Plain-English Summary

# Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 2) Bill 2023

## What it does

This is a "omnibus" bill—basically a grab bag of criminal law changes—that makes three main amendments: it tightens up how parole decisions work, adds new drug-related offences at the border, and fixes some technical issues with the Australian Crime Commission's powers.

The most significant change involves parole. The Attorney-General now has automatic deadlines to make a parole decision: they must decide within the non-parole period, and if they reconsider a case, they have 12 months to make a final call. If they miss these deadlines, they must make a decision "as soon as practicable" afterwards.

## Why it matters

This prevents parole decisions from languishing indefinitely in bureaucratic limbo. Prisoners waiting to know their parole status—and victims wanting certainty about release dates—won't be left hanging in procedural uncertainty. It forces the Attorney-General's hand to actually decide rather than delay.

## Key details

- **Parole deadlines**: The Attorney-General must make parole decisions by the end of the non-parole period, and reconsiderations must be finalised within 12 months
- **New border offences**: Drug-related changes apply to Commonwealth legislation controlling what can cross Australian borders (Customs Act, Defence Force Discipline Act)
- **Commencement**: Everything kicks in the day after the bill receives Royal Assent—no waiting period

Official Description

Amends the: Crimes Act 1914 to clarify the Attorney-General’s duty to make, or refuse to make, a parole order after the non-parole period has ended; Criminal Code Act 1995 , Customs Act 1901 and Defence Force Discipline Act 1982 to enhance import controls on substances that are commonly used as illicit drugs and precursors but which also have legitimate uses in industry (dual-use substances). Also validates things done in reliance on certain authorisations or determinations by the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Board.

Committee Referrals

Senate Standing Committee for the Scrutiny of Bills; Parliamentary Joint Committee on Human Rights

Full bill PDF →APH page →

Audit History

Introduced

14 Nov 2023

Last updated on APH

10 Apr 2026

Outcome date

27 Nov 2023

Last checked by Crossbench

yesterday

Full text indexed

yesterday

🗳️

No formal division recorded

This bill passed by voice vote — parliament agreed without calling a formal count. A division is only recorded when a member explicitly requests one.

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