# Mandatory minimum penalties for certain offences

> act-s236B — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

236B Mandatory minimum penalties for certain offences
          (1) This section applies if a person is convicted of an offence against
              section 233B, 233C or 234A.
          (2) This section does not apply if it is established on the balance of
              probabilities that the person was aged under 18 years when the
              offence was committed.
          (3) The court must impose a sentence of imprisonment of at least:
               (a) if the conviction is for an offence against section 233B—8
                   years; or
               (b) if the conviction is for a repeat offence—8 years; or
               (c) in any other case—5 years.
          (4) The court must also set a non-parole period of at least:









                 (a) if the conviction is for an offence to which paragraph (3)(a)
                     or (b) applies—5 years; or
                 (b) in any other case—3 years.
          (5) A person’s conviction for an offence is for a repeat offence if:
               (a) in proceedings after the commencement of this section
                   (whether in the same proceedings as the proceedings relating
                   to the offence, or in previous proceedings), a court:
                     (i) has convicted the person of another offence, being an
                         offence against section 233B, 233C or 234A of this Act;
                         or
                    (ii) has found, without recording a conviction, that the
                         person has committed another such offence; or
               (b) in proceedings after the commencement of the Border
                   Protection (Validation and Enforcement Powers) Act 2001
                   (whether in the same proceedings as the proceedings relating
                   to the offence, or in previous proceedings), a court:
                     (i) has convicted the person of another offence, being an
                         offence against section 232A or 233A of this Act as in
                         force before the commencement of this section; or
                    (ii) has found, without recording a conviction, that the
                         person has committed another such offence.
          (6) In this section:
               non-parole period has the same meaning as it has in Part IB of the
               Crimes Act 1914.