Section 78B — Crimes Act 1961: Consent of Attorney-General to proceedings in relation to espionage or wrongful communication, retention, or copying of official information

78B Consent of Attorney-General to proceedings in relation to espionage or wrongful communication, retention, or copying of official information (1) No information shall be laid against any person for— (a) An offence against section 78 or 78A(1) of this Act; or (b) The offence of conspiring to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1) of this Act; or (c) The offence of attempting to commit an offence against section 78 or section 78A(1) of this Act,— except with the consent of the Attorney-General: Provided that a person alleged to have committed any offence mentioned in this subsection may be arrested, or a warrant for his arrest may be issued and executed, and any such person may be remanded in custody or on bail, notwithstanding that the consent of the Attorney-General to the laying of an information for the offence has not been obtained, but no further or other proceedings shall be taken until that consent has been obtained. (2) The Attorney-General may, before deciding whether or not to give his consent under subsection (1) of this section, make such inquiries as he thinks fit. Sections 78A to 78D were inserted, as from 1 July 1983, by section 2(1) Crimes Amendment Act (No 2) 1982 (1982 No 157).