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Organised crime

• Commonwealth Organised Crime Strategic Framework
• Commonwealth Organised Crime Response Plan overview
• National organised crime response plan overview

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. In early 2010, two packages of legislative reforms aimed at improving the prevention, investigation and prosecution of organised crime were passed by the Australian Parliament.  The reforms implemented commitments made by the Commonwealth as part of the national response.

Specifically, the two Serious and Organised Crime Acts:

• introduced new criminal offences targeting those involved in organised crime
• strengthened criminal asset confiscation and anti-money laundering regimes
• require individuals suspected of unexplained wealth to demonstrate that it was legally acquired
• enhanced money laundering, bribery and drug importation offences
• broadened access to telecommunications interception for the investigation of organised crime offences, and
• provide protection for undercover law enforcement officers who infiltrate criminal organisations.

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.

Commonwealth Organised Crime Response Plan overview

On 26 November 2010, the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, the Hon Brendan O’Connor MP released the Commonwealth Organised Crime Response Plan overview (the Commonwealth Response Plan).

The Commonwealth Response Plan is a key component of the Commonwealth Organised Crime Strategic Framework launched in November last year, which is already bringing together the efforts of key agencies involved in combating organised crime across the Commonwealth.

The Commonwealth Response Plan targets the three priority organised crime risks of amphetamine‑type stimulants, money laundering and identity crime, identified by the Australian Crime Commission in its Organised Crime Threat Assessment.

The Commonwealth Response Plan has been unanimously endorsed by the Heads of Commonwealth Operational Law Enforcement Agencies.

National Organised Crime Response Plan overview

On 10 December 2010, the Attorney-General, the Hon Robert McClelland MP, and the Minister for Home Affairs and Justice, the Hon Brendan O'Connor MP, released the National Organised Crime Response Plan overview (the National Response Plan) in conjunction with State and Territory Attorneys-General.

The National Response Plan forms one of a number of measures agreed to by the Standing Committee of Attorneys-General (SCAG) last year to better target the national organised crime environment. The National Response Plan provides a new framework for strengthened multi-jurisdictional collaboration and coordination in combating organised crime in Australia.

Under the National Response Plan, Commonwealth and State and Territory governments have agreed to a set of strategic principles and protocols to underpin a national response to organised crime. Governments have also committed to work together on a range of specific measures, including to:

• improve consistency of legislation to fight organised crime,
• remove impediments to effective sharing of information and intelligence, and
• target the priority organised crime risks identified in the Organised Crime Threat Assessment.

The National Response Plan has been endorsed by all Australian Attorneys-General and Police Ministers through the SCAG and Ministerial Council for Police and Emergency Management – Police (MCPEMP).

• National Organised Crime Response Plan overview

If you have any difficulty accessing these documents please contact criminal.law@ag.gov.au.