COMMONWEALTH OFFENCES
Commonwealth Offence Charges in Queensland: What You Need to Know
Most federal charges are prosecuted under the
Criminal Code Act 1995 (Cth), supported by the
Crimes Act 1914 (Cth), legislation designed to protect Australia’s national interests, financial systems, and community safety.
In Queensland, Commonwealth offences refer to crimes prosecuted under federal law rather than state law. These matters are typically investigated by agencies such as the
Australian Federal Police (AFP) and prosecuted by the
Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP). Common examples include fraud against government agencies, taxation offences, drug importation, child exploitation material, terrorism, identity theft, and offences committed using telecommunications or the internet. Although heard in Queensland courts, these cases follow
federal legislation and sentencing procedures, not the Queensland Criminal Code.
Commonwealth Charges Include:
Click below for further details on respective charges
Centrelink fraud (also called welfare fraud) is when someone deliberately provides false or misleading information to Centrelink, or fails to update their circumstances, in order to receive payments they are not entitled to.
CORPORATE AND FINANCIAL REPORTING OFFENCES
Offences can include providing false or misleading statements, failing to lodge reports, or withholding information that should be disclosed. Because accurate reporting underpins trust in the corporate system, breaches are treated seriously and can attract significant penalties.
