Australian Prosecution of Corporations for International Crimes: The Potential of the Commonwealth Criminal Code

On 1 July 2002 new provisions for the prosecution of genocide,crimes against humanity and war crimes came into operation withinthe Australian Commonwealth Criminal Code. The offences wereintroduced as a part of Australia's ratification of the RomeStatute of the International Criminal Court. Through the enactmentof these crimes within the broader context of the Criminal Code,Australia has, perhaps unwittingly, created a basis to prosecutecorporations for these crimes even under the universal jurisdictionprinciple. A current investigation by the Australian FederalPolice into the possible role of mining company Anvil MiningLimited in facilitating a military offensive in the town ofKilwa in the Democratic Republic of the Congo indicates thatAustralia, like many nations today, is grappling locally withthe possibility of corporate involvement in international crime.As a potential source of action against companies implicatedin international crime, the possible reach of the AustralianCriminal Code provisions warrants consideration. This articleoutlines the application of the new Australian internationalcrimes provisions to corporations and argues that, if used appropriately,these will represent a positive development toward corporateaccountability.