Australian Law/Surveillance Devices Acts

Each State and territory has a Surveillance Devices Act (not necessarily known by that name), as does the Commonwealth.

The term 'surveillance devices' in the short titles of the Acts refers to devices which can observe (or enhance a person's ability to observe) or record private activities, including but not limited to conversations.

The regulation of surveillance devices does not fall within the Commonwealth legislative power. Instead, the regulation of the use of such devices is at the State/territory level. The function of the Commonwealth Surveillance Devices Act is to permit Commonwealth law enforcement officers to exercise special privileges, such as access to surveillance device warrants, without breaching the State/territory Acts.

Warrants permitting use of surveillance devices
Surveillance device warrants authorise:
 * the use of surveillance devices (which would otherwise be an offence under the same Act); and
 * the entering of premises to install or retrieve the device (which would be trespass)

Comparison
*Work in progress*

Conversation can be recorded with one party's consent Conversation can only be recorded with all parties' consent

Surveillance device warrant is issued by ...