Social Welfare Consolidation Act 2005 section 273

Civil proceedings – Criminal Assets Bureau

Section 273 deals with who is the proper party to civil legal proceedings when a bureau officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau exercises social welfare powers on behalf of the Minister.

• Where an officer of the Minister is also a bureau officer of the Criminal Assets Bureau, they may exercise powers and duties under this Act
• Any legal proceedings arising from that exercise of powers may be brought by or against the Criminal Assets Bureau itself
• This provision does not apply to proceedings for the prosecution of an offence, which are handled separately
• The effect is that the Criminal Assets Bureau stands as the relevant party in civil or administrative proceedings connected with bureau officers' social welfare functions