Criminal law in Australia is a complex and multifaceted area of law that encompasses both state and federal jurisdictions. Each state and territory has its own criminal code or equivalent legislation, while federal criminal law primarily deals with crimes that cross state boundaries or impact national interests, such as drug trafficking and terrorism.

The foundation of Australian criminal law lies in common law principles, but statutory law has increasingly taken precedence. Key principles include the presumption of innocence, the burden of proof on the prosecution to establish guilt beyond a reasonable doubt, and the requirement of mens rea (a guilty mind) and actus reus (a guilty act) for most offenses.