(1) A request for assistance under this Part may be made by—
(a) any prescribed foreign country:
(b) subject to section 24A and section 24B, any convention country:
(c) subject to section 25A, any foreign country—
(i) that is not a prescribed foreign country or a convention country; or
(ii) that is a prescribed foreign country but where the request is not made in that capacity; or
(iii) that is a convention country but where the request is not made in that capacity.
(2) This section is subject to any regulations made under this Act.
(3) Despite subsection (1), no request for assistance under this Part made in accordance with the United Nations Convention Against Illicit Traffic in Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances may be dealt with before a date appointed by the Governor-General by Order in Council.
Section 24: substituted, on 1 March 1999, by section 3 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Amendment Act 1998 (1998 No 15).
Section 24(1)(b): amended, on 8 May 1999, by section 2 of the Mutual Assistance in Criminal Matters Amendment Act 1999 (1999 No 41).