Your rights

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Australia's legal system
From the constitution to the role of courts and judges, the Australian legal system is complex. Learn more here.

Law Access Online provides information and assistance with your legal issues.

Legal Aid can provide assistance to disadvantaged people. Visit the Legal Aid commission in your state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Victoria
Western Australia

For a database of Australian legislation maintained by the University of Technology Sydney and the University of Western Sydney, click here.

The Commonwealth Attorney-General's Department also maintains a database of legislation.

How to report a crime
Fraud, drug importation and trafficking, people smuggling, electronic crime and crime against the environment are against the Commonwealth of Australia and should be reported to the federal police.

Other criminal matters should be reported to the police in your state or territory:

Australian Capital Territory
New South Wales
Northern Territory
Queensland
South Australia
Tasmania
Western Australia
Victoria

Or to Crimestoppers.

What to do if you are arrested
If you are placed under arrest, you are not obliged to say or do anything. However, you may have to provide a breath or blood test.

Any person who is taken into custody by police has to be either released unconditionally, released on bail or lodged in a police jail until brought before a Bail Justice or Magistrates' Court.

If you are placed into police custody, you must be provided with food and care for your immediate needs.
The environment should be safe and secure.

Upon being presented at court, you have the right to be represented by a lawyer and a right to plead either guilty or not guilty to the criminal offence.

If you plead not guilty and it is a serious offence, you will be tried by a jury of twelve people.

In custody, you are allowed to contact a lawyer and a friend or relative to inform them of your whereabouts.

You must be given the opportunity to contact a lawyer before you are interviewed by police, unless there is a danger you may warn an accomplice, impede the investigation, or if the need for an interview is regarded as urgent.

After you are arrested, the police will generally take you back to a police station and confirm your identity.

You will probably be searched to ensure you are not carrying any weapons, drugs or any other illegal items.

After you have been given the opportunity to contact a friend, relative and a lawyer, you will be taken into a room and interviewed by police.

You are entitled to have a lawyer present at the interview if you wish. After being interviewed, you will probably be photographed and fingerprinted.

The police will then inform you whether you are to be charged with a criminal offence or not.

If you are to be charged, your legal status changes from a suspect to that of an accused person.

Whistleblowing
Learn more about the law designed to protect whistleblowers.

If you are thinking about becoming a whistleblower, you might want to get in touch with Whistleblowers Australia (WBA).

The lobby groups aims to promote a society in which it is possible to speak out without reprisal about corruption, dangers to the public and other vital social issues, and to help those who speak out in this way to help themselves.

WBA uses two main approaches to achieve this goal. The first is to encourage self-help and mutual help among whistleblowers and the second is to support campaigns on specific issues.