The Criminal Code Act 1995 is fundamental to the operation of Commonwealth criminal law. It was designed to achieve consistency and equity in the operation of the Commonwealth criminal law throughout Australia.
Chapter 2 of the Code provides the general principles of criminal responsibility that apply in the prosecution of all offences against laws of the Commonwealth. It sets out the elements of offences and what is required to establish guilt in respect of offences, including as to the required burden of proof. It sets out the circumstances in which there is no criminal responsibility, as well as circumstances where criminal responsibility may be extended. The Code also makes provision for the geographical jurisdiction of Commonwealth offences and corporate criminal responsibility.