(1)  If, on the trial of a person for an offence –

(a) the person is found guilty; and

(b) the court is satisfied, by the production of the report of the Chief Psychiatrist or another psychiatrist and any other evidence that it may require, that –

(i) the person appears to be suffering from a mental illness that requires treatment; and

(ii) the treatment can be obtained by admission to and detention in an approved hospital or secure mental health unit; and

(iii) the person should be admitted as a patient for the person's own health or safety or for the protection of members of the public; and

(c) the court has received a report in writing from the Chief Psychiatrist if it is proposed to admit the person to an approved hospital, or to a secure mental health unit, recommending the proposed admission –

the court may –

(d) instead of, or in addition to, any sentence it may impose, make a treatment order in respect of the person; and

(e) if the court is the Supreme Court, make a restriction order in respect of the offender.

(2)  The Supreme Court must not make a restriction order in respect of a person who, had he or she not been found to be suffering from a mental illness, would not have been sentenced to a term of imprisonment.

(2A)  If, on the trial of a person for an offence –

(a) the person is found guilty; and

(b) the court is satisfied, by the production of the report of the Chief Psychiatrist and any other evidence that it may require, that –

(i) the person appears to be suffering from a mental illness that requires treatment; and

(ii) the treatment can be obtained by releasing the person under the supervision of the Chief Psychiatrist; and

(c) the report of the Chief Psychiatrist recommends the release of the person under his or her supervision –

the court, if it is the Supreme Court, may make a supervision order instead of, or in addition to, any sentence it may impose.

(3)  If a magistrate is of the opinion, after taking into account the matters required to be considered in determining the order to be made, that a restriction order or supervision order should be made in respect of an offender, the magistrate may refer the matter to the Supreme Court for determination.

(4)  On a referral of a matter to the Supreme Court under subsection (3) , the court must enquire into the circumstances of the case and it has the same powers to deal with the offender as if the offender had been dealt with in that court.

(5)  The court may make such orders as to the distribution and security of the report provided by the Chief Psychiatrist as it considers necessary or appropriate.

(6)  Unless the court orders otherwise, the Chief Psychiatrist must give, as soon as practicable, a copy of his or her report to –

(a) the prosecutor; and

(b) the Australian legal practitioner representing the person in respect of whom the report is made or, if that person is unrepresented, that person.

(7)  The prosecution or the defence may dispute the whole or any part of the report of the Chief Psychiatrist.

(8)  If the whole or any part of the report of the Chief Psychiatrist is disputed, the court must not take into consideration the report or the part in dispute unless the party disputing the report or the part has had the opportunity –

(a) to lead evidence on the disputed matters; and

(b) to cross-examine on the disputed matters the Chief Psychiatrist or, if the Chief Psychiatrist has delegated his or her function of writing the report, the author of the report.