15B Time for commencement of prosecutions

(1)

Subject to subsection (1B), a prosecution of an individual for an offence against any law of the Commonwealth may be commenced as follows:

(a)

if the maximum penalty which may be imposed for the offence in respect of an individual is, or includes, a term of imprisonment of more than 6 months in the case of a first conviction—at any time;

(b)

in any other case—at any time within one year after the commission of the offence.

(1A)

A prosecution of a body corporate for an offence against any law of the Commonwealth may be commenced as follows:

(a)

if the maximum penalty which may be imposed for the offence in respect of a body corporate is, or includes, a fine of more than 150 penalty units in the case of a first conviction—at any time;

(b)

in any other case—at any time within one year after the commission of the offence.

(1B)

A prosecution of an individual for an offence arising under section 5, or under another law of the Commonwealth dealing with aiding and abetting, in relation to an offence committed by a body corporate may be commenced as follows:

 

(a)

if the maximum penalty which may be imposed for the principal offence in respect of a body corporate is, or includes, a fine of more than 150 penalty units in the case of a first conviction—at any time;

(b)

in any other case—at any time within one year after the commission of the offence by the individual.

(2)

Notwithstanding any provision in any law of the Commonwealth passed before the commencement of this Act and providing any shorter time for the commencement of the prosecution, any prosecution for an offence against the law may be commenced at any time within one year after the commission of the offence.

 

(3)

Where by any law of the Commonwealth any longer time than the time provided by this section is provided for the commencement of a prosecution in respect of an offence against that law, a prosecution in respect of the offence may be commenced at any time within that longer time.