Organised Crime
In his first National Security Statement, the Prime Minister identified organised crime as a growing concern which the Commonwealth Government is determined to combat. He committed to ‘clearly define the role of the Commonwealth in combating serious and organised crime and enhance coordination among Commonwealth agencies’.
The Australian Crime Commission has estimated that organised crime costs Australia between $10 and $15 billion each year. Organised criminal networks are driven by a profit motive, and are flexible, innovative and resilient.
The Commonwealth and the States and Territories, through the Standing Committee of Attorneys‑General, have committed to a comprehensive national response to organised crime. The Attorney‑General has introduced two packages of legislative reforms to improve the prevention, investigation, and prosecution of organised crime. The proposed legislation would implement commitments made by the Commonwealth as part of the national response.
Commonwealth Organised Crime Strategic Framework
On 25 November 2009, the Attorney‑General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, and the Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, released the Commonwealth Organised Crime Strategic Framework (the Framework).
The Framework identifies the key threats from organised crime and coordinates a whole of government response to address them. The key elements of the Framework are:
- an Organised Crime Threat Assessment
- an Organised Crime Response Plan, and
- implementation of multi‑agency responses.
The Attorney‑General’s Department led development of the Framework on behalf of the Heads of Commonwealth Operational Law Enforcement Agencies.
If you have any difficulty accessing the Framework document please contact criminal.law@ag.gov.au.
