$54m federal budget boost to target bikies, mafia, Asian triads
Organised crime figures have been put on notice with a big boost in the federal budget to catch the organised crime crooks. This is how it will work.
Federal Budget
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Bikie gangs, the mafia and Asian triads running drugs into Australia will be targeted with a surge in intelligence officers under a $54m budget boost.
Crooks have been put on notice that they will be more closely monitored, with the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission to hire an extra 161 staff this year.
The commission’s extra cash and staff will also help expand its secret hearings under “coercive powers” whereby suspected criminals are jailed if they refuse to dob in their mates.
The Australian Federal Police budget has also increased by $100m, with plans to establish a cybercrime task force.
Additionally, extra money will be used to return the wives and children of Australian Islamic State fighters from Syria, with that bill likely to be in the tens of millions of dollars.
Mike Phelan, the chief executive of ACIC, has been given an expanded brief to share intelligence with state police forces in real time.
“The ACIC is developing the National Criminal Intelligence System capability to
provide the first truly national and unified picture of criminal activities,” the budget papers state.
The sophisticated intelligence-sharing program would help police check criminal records and monitor criminals’ movements and activities across state borders.
The budget papers outline the government’s commitment to fighting international drug cartels, who create misery on Australia’s streets.
“The Australian government has provided funding for ACIC to deliver several policy
initiatives to combat transnational, serious and organised crime,” the papers state.
The money would ensure “delivery of criminal intelligence operational capability, including support for the ACIC’s unique coercive powers (and) support to ensure the delivery of the National Criminal Intelligence System”.
“The ACIC will continue to strengthen the value of accurate and timely background
information to inform decision-making and improve community safety and pursue
legislative change to enable it to meet contemporary requirements,” the papers state.
ACIC’s staff will increase from 691 to 852, not including those who were seconded to other departments.
The AFP’s budget includes money to establish a Joint Police Cybercrime Co-ordination Centre.
Money was also set aside to fight child abuse, with an identification system and support to make it easier to report the crime.
There are also additional funds to manage and monitor terrorists who have been released from jail.
Police sources have warned there are a number of high-risk inmates due for parole in coming months.
Originally published as $54m federal budget boost to target bikies, mafia, Asian triads
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