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Section 578C Crimes Act 1900 NSW
Publishing Indecent Articles

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Publishing Indecent Articles is an offence under Section 578C of the Crimes Act 1900 (NSW) which carries a maximum penalty of 12 months in prison and 100 penalty units for an individual or 200 penalty units for a company.

To establish the offence, the prosecution must prove beyond a reasonable doubt:

  1. You published an article, and
  2. The article was indecent

To ‘publish’ includes to:

  1. Distribute, disseminate, circulate, deliver, exhibit, lend for gain, exchange, barter, sell, offer for sale, let on hire or offer to let on hire,
  1. Have in your possession or custody, or under your control, for the purpose of doing an act referred to in (1) above, or
  1. Print, photograph or make in any other manner for the purpose of doing an act in (1) above

An ‘article’ includes any thing:

  1. That contains or embodies matter to be read;
  2. That is to be looked at;
  3. That is a record;
  4. That can be used for the production or manufacture of any thing in (1), (2) or (3) above.

However, the definition does not include:

  1. Any film that is classified (other than as RC or X 18+) under the Commonwealth Act
  2. Any publication classified Unrestricted, Category 1 restricted or Category 2 restricted under the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 (‘the Act’)
  1. Any computer game classified (other than as RC) under the Act
  2. Any film, publication or computer game that is the subject of an exemption under the Act

‘Indecent’ has been defined as “contrary to the ordinary standards of respectable people in the community”

In determining whether an article is indecent, the opinion of an expert as to whether it has any merit.

It has any merit in the field of literature, art, medicine or science is admissible as evidence.

Section 578C of the Crimes Act is the offence of Publishing Indecent Articles and is extracted below.

If you are going to court for the offence of Publishing Indecent Articles, call Sydney Criminal Lawyers 24/7 on (02) 9261 8881 to arrange a free first conference with an experienced defence lawyer who will advise you of your options and the best way forward, and fight to secure the optimal outcome.

Read on for more information.

The Legislation

Section 578C of the Crimes Act 1900 deals with the offence of ‘Publishing Indecent Articles’ and reads as follows:

578C Publishing indecent articles

(1) In this section:“article” includes any thing:
(a) that contains or embodies matter to be read or looked at, or
(b) that is to be looked at, or
(c) that is a record, or
(d) that can be used, either alone or as one of a set, for the production or manufacture of any thing referred to in paragraphs (a), (b) or (c),
but it does not include:
(e) any film that is classified (other than as RC or X 18+) under the Commonwealth Act, or
(f) any publication that is classified Unrestricted, Category 1 restricted or Category 2 restricted under the Commonwealth Act, or
(g) any computer game that is classified (other than as RC) under the Commonwealth Act, or
(h) any film, publication or computer game that is the subject of an exemption under Division 3 of Part 6 of the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Enforcement Act 1995.

“Commonwealth Act” means the Classification (Publications, Films and Computer Games) Act 1995 of the Commonwealth.“computer game”, “film” and “publication” each have the same meanings, respectively, as in the Commonwealth Act.“publish” includes:
(a) distribute, disseminate, circulate, deliver, exhibit, lend for gain, exchange, barter, sell, offer for sale, let on hire or offer to let on hire, or
(b) have in possession or custody, or under control, for the purpose of doing an act referred to in paragraph (a), or
(c) print, photograph or make in any other manner (whether of the same or of a different kind or nature) for the purpose of doing such an act.
“record” means a gramophone record or a wire or tape, or a film, and any other thing of the same or of a different kind or nature, on which is recorded a sound or picture and from which, with the aid of a suitable apparatus, the sound or picture can be produced (whether or not it is in a distorted or altered form).

(2) A person who publishes an indecent article is guilty of an offence. Maximum penalty: in the case of an individual–100 penalty units or imprisonment for 12 months (or both), and in the case of a corporation–200 penalty units.

(2A)-(2C) (Repealed)

(3) Nothing in this section makes it an offence for:
(a) a person to publish an indecent article for the purposes of an application for classification under the Commonwealth Act,
(b) for any member or officer of a law enforcement agency (within the meaning of the Criminal Records Act 1991) to publish an indecent article in the exercise or performance of a power, function or duty conferred or imposed on the member or officer by or under any Act or law.

(3A) A person cannot be convicted of an offence against this section and section 91H in respect of the same matter.

(4) For the purposes of this section, an article may be indecent even though part of it is not indecent.

(5) Proceedings for an offence under subsection (2) are to be dealt with summarily before the Local Court.

(5A) (Repealed)

(6) In any proceedings for an offence under this section in which indecency is in issue, the opinion of an expert as to whether or not an article has any merit in the field of literature, art, medicine or science (and if so, the nature and extent of that merit) is admissible as evidence.

(7) If a corporation contravenes, whether by act or omission, another provision of this section, each person who is a director of the corporation or who is concerned in the management of the corporation is taken to have contravened the provision if the person knowingly authorised or permitted the contravention.

(8) A person may be proceeded against and convicted under a provision pursuant to subsection (7) whether or not the corporation has been proceeded against or been convicted under that provision.

(9) Nothing in subsection (7) or (8) affects any liability imposed on a corporation for an offence committed by the corporation under a provision of this section.

Why Choose Sydney Criminal Lawyers®?

Going to court can be nerve-racking, but having a strong and compassionate legal team behind you can make the experience significantly easier to deal with.

Here are 12 reasons to choose our multi-award winning legal team:

  1. Proven Track Record of Exceptional Results

    Sydney Criminal Lawyers® consistently achieves outcomes which are in the highest percentile of the Judicial Commission’s sentencing statistics for criminal cases.

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    We also consistently win appeals in the District and Supreme Courts (including the NSWCCA) after clients have received unsatisfactory results with other law firms in the lower courts.We are one of the few firms to achieve successful criminal law appeals in the High Court of Australia.

    Where our clients wish to plead guilty, we frequently achieve ‘dismissals’ and ‘non convictions’ in cases where other lawyers have advised there is no chance of doing so.

  2. Highest Level of Client Satisfaction

    We have the best and most comprehensive client review record of any law firm in Australia.

    Regular communication, accessibility and quality service are our team’s highest priorities.

    We are committed to thoroughly explaining all steps involved in the criminal law process, providing regular updates throughout the proceedings, and making ourselves accessible and responsive.

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  3. Australia’s Most Awarded Criminal Law Firm

    We have received more awards and accolades than any other criminal law firm in Australia. Our team has been awarded “Criminal Defence Firm of the Year in Australia” in a number of prestigious and competitive awards programs for several years running.

    The awards recognise our exceptional track record of results, our outstanding client service, the high level of satisfaction we achieve, the affordability of our services and our overall excellence.

  4. Fixed Fees

    We want our clients to know exactly how much their cases will cost from the very start. That’s why we were the first criminal law firm in Australia to publish ‘fixed fees’, back in 2004.

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    Unlike many other law firms, our fixed fees are published on our website – which ensures transparency and certainty.

  5. Free First Appointment

    For those who are going to court, we offer a free first conference of up to an hour with one of our Senior Criminal Defence Lawyers.

    We also offer a free first conference to those who have received an unsatisfactory result after being represented in court by another law firm, or after representing themselves, and wish to appeal.

  6. Specialist Lawyer Guarantee

    We guarantee that only lawyers with substantial criminal defence experience will work on your case and appear for you in court.

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  7. All NSW Courts

    From Bombala to Broken Hill, our lawyers appear in courts throughout New South Wales – and across Australia for Commonwealth cases.

    And we offer fixed fees for most criminal and traffic law cases throughout the state.

  8. Accredited Specialists

    Our entire firm is exclusively dedicated to criminal law – which makes us true specialists.

    All of our lawyers have years of experience representing clients in criminal cases, and our principal has been certified by the Law Society of NSW as an Accredited Criminal Law Specialist since 2005.

    An ‘Accredited Specialist’ is a lawyer who has practised for at least 5 years in a particular field of law (such as criminal law), has passed a rigorous assessment process conducted by the Law Society of NSW, and has been selected by the Specialist Accreditation Committee of the Law Society as an expert in the field.

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  12. Convenience

    We have offices in locations across the Sydney Metropolitan Area and beyond, including:

    We offer free parking at our Sydney CBD offices, and all of our offices are close to train stations and bus terminals.

    For those who are unable to attend our offices, we offer conferences by telephone, Skye and FaceTime anywhere around the world.

    If you are going to court and wish to arrange a free first consultation, call our 24 hour hotline on (02) 9261 8881 or send us an email at info@sydneycriminallawyers.com.au.

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