Page 3231 - Week 11 - Thursday, 12 September 1991
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .
The second part of the scheme is State and Territory legislation which confers jurisdiction on the authority to investigate offences against the laws of those States and Territories. All States and the Northern Territory have enacted their own legislation which underpins the Commonwealth legislation.
The Commonwealth Act followed the full-scale review and re- examination of the Federal Government's National Crimes Commission Act 1982 and several rounds of meetings between Commonwealth, State and the Northern Territory Attorneys-General and police Ministers, police commissioners, and officials. Subsequent legislation was subject to report by the Senate Standing Committee on Constitutional and Legal Affairs at the time.
The authority was established to investigate, collect and analyse information relating to sophisticated or organised crime and supply that information to Federal, State and Territory law enforcement agencies. The authority is monitored by an intergovernmental committee, known as the IGC, comprising a Commonwealth Minister and State and Northern Territory Ministers from participating jurisdictions. I have attended one of these intergovernmental committee meetings as an observer. Upon the enactment of this Bill, the Australian Capital Territory will be able to participate as a full member of the intergovernmental committee.
The National Crime Authority is a permanent body with significant but accountable powers and with a store of inherited information and expertise. The traditional emphasis of the authority has been to investigate drug related crimes. However, as part of a new direction, the authority will place more emphasis on inquiring into serious white-collar and corporate crime throughout Australia and complementing rather than competing with State and Territory law enforcement agencies.
The Commonwealth Parliamentary Joint Committee on the National Crime Authority is conducting at present an evaluation of the authority and has called for public submissions on all aspects of the investigative body. The inquiry is examining the functions and powers of the authority, in particular its constitutional role. All participating governments, which will include the ACT, will monitor that inquiry.
The enactment of this Bill will allow the ACT Government to participate in decision making about what references should be given to the authority and to monitor the activities of the authority. It will bring the ACT into line with other States and the Northern Territory in respect of this important law enforcement policy. I present the explanatory memorandum for the Bill.
Debate (on motion by Mr Collaery) adjourned.
Next page . . . . Previous page . . . . Contents . . . . Debates(HTML) . . . . PDF . . . .