# Allowing an unlawful non-citizen to work

> act-s245AB — as in force on 2026-06-04 — C2026C00232 · Compilation No. 171 — https://www.legislation.gov.au/C2026C00232/latest/text

245AB Allowing an unlawful non-citizen to work
          (1) A person (the first person) contravenes this subsection if:
               (a) the first person allows, or continues to allow, another person
                   (the worker) to work; and
               (b) the worker is an unlawful non-citizen.
          (2) Subsection (1) does not apply if the first person takes reasonable
              steps at reasonable times to verify that the worker is not an
              unlawful non-citizen, including (but not limited to) either of the
              following steps:
                (a) using a computer system prescribed by the regulations to
                    verify that matter;
                (b) doing any one or more things prescribed by the regulations.

               Offence
          (3) A person commits an offence if the person contravenes
              subsection (1). The physical elements of the offence are set out in
              that subsection.
               Note:      A defendant bears an evidential burden in relation to the matter in
                          subsection (2) (see subsection 13.3(3) of the Criminal Code).

               Penalty: Imprisonment for 2 years or 360 penalty units, or both.










          (4) For the purposes of subsection (3), the fault element for
              paragraph (1)(b) is knowledge or recklessness by the first person.

               Civil penalty provision
          (5) A person is liable to a civil penalty if the person contravenes
              subsection (1).
               Note:      It is not necessary to prove a person’s state of mind in proceedings for
                          a civil penalty order (see section 486ZF).

               Civil penalty:           240 penalty units.
          (6) A person who wishes to rely on subsection (2) in proceedings for a
              civil penalty order bears an evidential burden in relation to the
              matter in that subsection.