( 3 J? 1A
PRIME MINISTER
FOR MEDIA SUNDAY, 24 OCTOBER 1982
ELECTORATE TALK
The legislation for a National Crimes Commission which was
introduced into Parliament last week will establis-an
effective agency designed specifically to comrbat organised crime
and corruption in Australia. At the same time, the legislation
provides a basis for effective co-operation with the states,
and with police forces and other law enforcement agencies.
It has become clear in recent years that organised crime, and
criminal activities relating to drugs and other matters, have
got beyond the reach of our traditional law enforcement methods
and agencies. The Williams and Stewart Royal Commissions on
Drugs and Drug Trafficking, a nuxnberof joint Comamonwealth-state
police task force reports, and most recently the Costigan
Royal Commission's Interim Report, all tell vastly disturbing
stories about the spread and significance of organised crime
in Australia. Mr Costigan's investigations into the Paintbrs
and Dockers Union have highlighted that Australia is not immune
from the kind of criminal activities which most of us would have
associated perhaps with Chicago or other countries, but not
Australia. Some quotations from the Costigan Report starkly illustrate
the seriousness of the situation. Mr Costigan says, " I am
satisfied that the Union, at least in Victoria, Newcastle,
Queensland and South Australia if not in Sydney as well, is
an organised criminal group following criminal pursuits. At
least in Victoria those in charge of the Union recruit
exclusively those who have serious criminal convictions."
( Para. l0.02 of Mr Costigan's edited Chapter 10 of Vol. 2,.
4th Interim Report.) Mr Costigan also says in relation to the kind
of activity he has unearthed, " The type of criminal activity
is of a substantial kind. It involves large scale and continuing
fraud, or large and continuous importation of drugs at great
cost, continuing illegal gambling schemes or other forms of
widespread criminal activity." ( Para. 10.09)
It is imperative to attack these problems urgently and
effectively, to prevent any further entrenchment of this kind
of crime in Australia, and do everything possible to eradicate it.
That is why the Government is pressing ahead with legislation at
this time. It is not good enough. to go on as we have been
doing in spite of everything we know and in spite of all the talk
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about the need to act. The Crimes Commission will co-operate
with traditional law enforcement agencies. It will in no
sense replace them and its activities will be essentially
directed towards types of crime which those agencies have
experienced special difficulties in investigating.
I very much hope the states will keep an open. mind and adopt
a co-operative stand in relation to the Commission. because
the problems clearly straddle state boundaries, they affect
both Commonwealth and state legal jurisdictions. The Crimes
commission will be operating in the areas. of Commonwealth law, it
in no way infringes on state sovereignty or state rights.
But at the same time, if any or all of the states want to make
use of the Commission, then the Commission will be
empowered by our legislation to accept particular commissions
from the states, and to accept jurisdiction for areas of state
law which states may wish to confer on the Commission. This is
entirely up to the states to determine, but the way is open,
and there is every reason why the Commonwealth/ state co-operation
which has existed with Royal Commissions, joint task forces,
and the Australian Bureau of Criminal Intelligence, should run
into the new Crimes Commission.
The Crimes Commission will be far more appropriate than Royal
Commissions to deal with organised crime. Mr Costigan
has emphasised the hrr) ortance of a prosecuting arm to attend
to prosecutions immediately they arise during investigations
such as his. The Crimes Commission, while able to gjive
information to the police, will also have its own responsibility
to develop cases for prosecution. In serious and complex
cases especially, it is intended that the Commission will work
hand in hand with the legal counsel who will prosecute if a
case for prosecution is found.
To make sure the-Commission can deal with whatever forms of
organised crime it uncovers, the Commission will have a broad
charter, giving it scope to look into complaints or follow up its,
own investigations, and it will have the powers needed to come
to grips with organised crime. The legislation has been framed
in a way that will make the Commission effective, while also
meeting the legitimate-concerns which have been expressed
about the idea of a National Crimes Commission.
I am confident that the Crimes Commission will make a major
contribution in dealing with organised cr-ime. It is a vital
Government initiative and I am confident it will receive the
widespread support it deserves.