NEW OFFENCE FOR DRINK AND FOOD SPIKING WELCOMED
The Member for Berowra, Philip Ruddock MP today welcomed a report recommending new offence for drink and food spiking.
“The Final Report on Drink and Food Spiking establishes ‘prank spiking’ as a criminal offence and recognises the potential harm caused by spiking of drink and food,” Mr Ruddock said.
“The report, prepared by the Model Criminal Law Officers’ Committee of Commonwealth, State and Territory criminal law experts, was endorsed at the meeting of the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General in Hobart last month.
“I look forward to further progress towards a national approach to harmonising the law where there is no basis for differences across state and territory jurisdictions.”
The report recommends model provisions which:
• define offences of drink and food spiking, and
• provide for a maximum penalty of two years imprisonment for offenders.
“State and Territory Ministers have agreed to consider implementing the model provisions in
their own jurisdictions,” Philip Ruddock said.
“Currently, there is a risk that, if a spiker’s only intention is to embarrass or humiliate, then the spiker can not be prosecuted and punished.
“The recommended model provisions define all conduct relating to the spiking of drink and food as criminal, as long as a person’s intention is to impair another person’s senses or understanding.”
The report is available at www.ag.gov.au.