STATES AND TERRITORIES

Of the 10,386 federal defendants that were finalised in Australia’s criminal courts in 2013-14:

• one-third (33%) were finalised in New South Wales (3,409 defendants);
• over one-quarter (27%) were finalised in Victoria (2,786 defendants); and
• one-fifth (21%) were finalised in Queensland (2,192 defendants). (Tables 13–15)

In 2013-14, the median age of federal defendants finalised varied across the jurisdictions ranging from:

• 31 years in the Northern Territory and the Australian Capital territory; to
• 42 years in South Australia. (Tables 13–20)

Across the states and territories, males accounted for the largest proportion of federal defendants finalised, ranging from:

• 81% in the Northern Territory (113 defendants); to
• 52% in Tasmania (74 defendants). (Tables 13–20)

The most common principal federal offence for the finalised population varied across states and territories as follows:

• in New South Wales and Victoria the most common principal offence was Abduction, harassment and other offences against the person (33% and 35% respectively);
• in Western Australia and Queensland the most common principal offence was Offences against justice procedures, government security and government operations (41% and 30% respectively);
• Fraud, deception and related offences was the most common principal offence in Tasmania (49%) and South Australia (31%);
• more than one-third of federal defendants finalised in the Northern Territory (36%) had a principal federal offence of Miscellaneous offences; and
• three-quarters (77%) of federal defendants finalised in the Australian Capital Territory had a principal offence of Traffic and vehicle regulatory offences. These offences largely related to parking infringements issued under federal legislation (see Explanatory Notes paragraph 54 for more details). (Tables 13–20)