Statement on arrests by Australian Federal Police
20 December 2012
Four people were arrested this week by the Australian Federal Police on offences relating to the importation of narcotics into Australia. It is anticipated further arrests may be made in the future.
This is the result of a two year investigation by the Australian Federal Police, Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI).
On the 1st of January 2011, the Federal Government placed the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service under the oversight of Australia's corruption watchdog, ACLEI. At that time, Customs referred suspected corruption to ACLEI.
ACLEI has the powers of a standing Royal Commission including the power to compel people to provide documents, hold coercive hearings, tap phones, execute search warrants and undertake physical as well as electronic surveillance.
This is an ongoing operation and further arrests are possible.
At the conclusion of this operation the ACLEI Commissioner, Mr Philip Moss will provide me with recommendations on further action that is required.
There is no place for corruption in our law enforcement agencies. Where it exists we have to weed it out. That is what this operation is all about. That is what the reforms I have implemented this year are about.
The vast majority of Australia's law enforcement officers are good, honest and hardworking people. But we can't be naïve. Because of the sort of work they do, the powers they have and the information they receive, they can be targeted by organised criminals.
This year I have introduced a major package of reforms to crackdown on organised crime and corruption. This is why I have pushed this so hard. And there is more to come.
I was briefed on this special operation when I was appointed Minister for Home Affairs in December last year.
In response the Government has taken the following action:
- Integrity Testing - In March I announced the Federal Government would introduce legislation to conduct targeted integrity tests on law enforcement officers suspected of corruption.
These are covert operations designed to test if someone is corrupt. It can involve offering a bribe, leaving money at the scene of a crime or putting false information on a database to see if it is passed on. It is a psychological weapon - designed to put fear into the mind of the corrupt. The next time they take a bribe from a criminal, that criminal could be an undercover police officer.
I introduced this legislation into the Federal Parliament in September and it was passed in November this year.
- Drug and Alcohol Testing - In April I announced that the Customs and Border Protection Service would have the same integrity powers as the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Crime Commission including the power for the CEO to authorise random drug and alcohol testing on all staff.
I introduced this legislation into the Federal Parliament in September and it was passed in November this year.
- The power to terminate officers for Serious Misconduct - In April I announced that the CEO of Customs would have the same powers as the Australian Federal Police Commissioner to make a declaration terminating the employment of an officer for serious misconduct.
I introduced this legislation into the Federal Parliament in September and it was passed in November this year.
- Mandatory requirements to report serious misconduct - In April I announced the introduction of mandatory reporting requirements, whereby Customs officers are required to report any misconduct or corruption activity.
I introduced this legislation into the Federal Parliament in September and it was passed in November this year.
- Expansion of the corruption watchdog - In April I announced that the Government would expand the number of agencies that were oversighted by the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI). ACLEI currently oversees the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Crime Commission and the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and deals with corruption issues from the former National Crime Authority.
I introduced legislation in September to extend ACLEI's oversight to include Biosecurity staff from the Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Forestry, AUSTRAC and CrimTrac. This legislation passed the Federal Parliament in November this year.
- Doubling of funding to oversight Customs and Border Protection - In April I announced that the funding for ACLEI to oversee the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service would be doubled.
- Joint Taskforce to assess vulnerabilities in the international airstream - In June I announced the establishment of a joint law enforcement taskforce to undertake an assessment of the vulnerabilities around the international air stream. This work is underway and will be finalised next year.
This is just the start. There is more to come. I am working on major structural and cultural reforms to the Customs and Border Protection Service and will announce them next year.
The reforms implemented this year and those to come will be all overseen by the Customs Reform Board I have announced today.
Media contact: Ryan Hamilton - 02 6277 7290