(6) A variation is not a legislative instrument.
15GP Application to appropriate authorising officer
(1) The principal law enforcement officer for a controlled operation, or any other Australian law enforcement officer acting on behalf of the principal law enforcement officer, may apply under this section to an appropriate authorising officer for a variation of an authority in respect of a matter mentioned in subsection 15GO(2).
(2) An application cannot be made under subsection (1) for a variation that would extend the period of effect of a formal authority in such a way that the period of effect of the authority will, after the variation is made, exceed 3 months (including any previous extensions).
(3) An application for the variation may be made:
(a) by means of a written document that is signed by the applicant (such an application is a formal variation application); or
(b) if the applicant has reason to believe that the delay caused by making a formal variation application may affect the success of the controlled operation to which the authority relates — orally in person, or by telephone or any other means of communication (such an application is an urgent variation application).
(4) More than one application for a variation under this section may be made in respect of the same authority. However, if an urgent variation of authority was granted as a result of an application under this section, the next application must be a formal variation application.
(5) The application (whether a formal variation application or an urgent variation application) must state whether or not the controlled operation has been the subject of an earlier urgent variation application under this section and, if so:
(a) whether the urgent variation application was the last application under this section for a variation; and
(b) whether or not the variation was granted.
(6) If the variation would extend the period of effect of a formal authority, the application (whether a formal variation application or an urgent variation application) must state the proposed period of the extension, which must not exceed:
(a) in the case of a formal variation application — the period that would result in the period of effect of the authority exceeding 3 months (including any previous extensions); and
(b) in the case of an urgent variation application — the lesser of:
(i) 7 days; and
(ii) a period that would result in the period of effect of the authority exceeding 3 months (including any previous extensions).
(7) The authorising officer to whom the application is made may require the applicant to provide such information concerning the proposed variation as is necessary for the authorising officer’s proper consideration of the application.
(8) As soon as practicable after making an urgent variation application that was not made in writing, the applicant must make a written record of the application and give a copy of it to the authorising officer to whom the application was made.
15GQ Requirements for variation of authority
(1) After considering an application for a variation of an authority, and any additional information provided under subsection 15GP(7), an appropriate authorising officer:
(a) may vary the authority in accordance with the application, either unconditionally or subject to conditions; or
(b) may refuse the application.
(2) An appropriate authorising officer must not vary an authority, whether on application or on the authorising officer’s own initiative, unless the authorising officer is satisfied on reasonable grounds:
(a) that a serious Commonwealth offence or a serious State offence that has a federal aspect has been, is being or is likely to be, committed; and
(b) that the nature and extent of the suspected criminal activity are such as to justify the variation; and
(c) that any unlawful conduct involved in conducting the controlled operation will be limited to the maximum extent consistent with conducting an effective controlled operation; and
(d) that the operation will be conducted in a way that ensures that, to the maximum extent possible, any illicit goods involved in the controlled operation will be under the control of an Australian law enforcement officer at the end of the controlled operation; and
(e) that the proposed controlled conduct will be capable of being accounted for in a way that will enable the reporting requirements of Division 4 to be complied with; and
(f) that the controlled operation will not be conducted in such a way that a person is likely to be induced to commit a Commonwealth offence or an offence against a law of a State or Territory that the person would not otherwise have intended to commit; and
(g) that any conduct involved in the controlled operation will not:
(i) seriously endanger the health or safety of any person; or
(ii) cause the death of, or serious injury to, any person; or
(iii) involve the commission of a sexual offence against any person; or
(iv) result in significant loss of, or serious damage to, property (other than illicit goods); and
(h) that any role assigned to a civilian participant in the operation is not one that could be adequately performed by a law enforcement officer.
15GR Manner of varying authority
(1) An authority may be varied by an appropriate authorising officer (whether on application or on the authorising officer’s own initiative) only:
(a) in the case of a variation on the authorising officer’s own initiative or on a formal variation application (other than a variation referred to in subparagraph (b)(ii)) — by means of a written document, signed by the authorising officer (such a variation is a formal variation of authority); or
(b) in the case of a variation on:
(i) an urgent variation application; or
(ii) the authorising officer’s own initiative or a formal variation application, if the authorising officer is satisfied that the delay caused by granting a formal variation of authority may affect the success of the controlled operation;
orally in person, or by telephone or any other means of communication (such a variation is an urgent variation of authority).
(2) The authorising officer must, as soon as practicable, prepare and give a written document that complies with section 15GS to the applicant or, if the variation was on the initiative of the authorising officer, to the principal law enforcement officer for the controlled operation.
15GS Form of variation of authority
(1) A variation of an authority by an appropriate authorising officer (whether formal or urgent) must:
(a) identify the controlled operation to which the authority relates; and
(b) state the name and rank or position of the person varying the authority; and
(c) if the authority was varied on an application made under section 15GP, state:
(i) the name of the applicant; and
(ii) whether the application was a formal variation application or an urgent variation application; and
(d) state the date and time when the variation of authority is or was granted; and
(e) describe the variation having regard to the matters referred to in subsection 15GO(2); and
(f)