Today the Australian Government has published the Independent Review of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and associated Commonwealth law enforcement arrangements (the Independent Review) and corresponding Government Response.
The Government commissioned this review, undertaken by Mr Stephen Merchant PSM and Mr Greg Wilson, to ensure the ACIC is operating at the level expected of Australia's premier national criminal intelligence agency. The review assessed the effectiveness of the ACIC's legislative framework as Australia's national criminal intelligence agency within the context of the Commonwealth law enforcement and intelligence environment.
The Independent Review's 29 recommendations set out a blueprint to strengthen the ACIC's ability to combat the significant threat posed by serious and organised crime.
The recommendations were developed after extensive consultation and engagement with the ACIC, Commonwealth agencies and state and territory law enforcement partners. The reforms will be implemented in close consultation with the ACIC's partners, including through the Police Ministers Council, to ensure they enhance the collective national response to serious and organised crime.
The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring the ACIC operates effectively and efficiently to deliver on its core criminal intelligence role in the fight against serious and organised crime.
The Government's response to the Independent Review agrees to the following core recommendations:
- to undertake robust legislative reforms to address significant deficiencies in the existing legislative frameworks and ensure the ACIC has appropriate powers for the collection of intelligence,
- to incorporate appropriate oversight and safeguards for the ACIC, including in relation to its use of coercive powers,
- to reinvigorate national governance and coordination arrangements for responding to serious and organised crime, and
- to reinforce the independence of the Australian Institute of Criminology.
Implementation of these recommendations will enable the ACIC to better support Commonwealth and state and territory law enforcement to tackle serious and organised criminals.
Serious and organised crime is an enduring and pervasive threat that costs the Australian economy in excess of $60 billion each year. The ACIC delivers critical intelligence that addresses the increasingly sophisticated organised crime threat that crosses state and national boundaries and affects all Australians.
I would like to thank Mr Merchant and Mr Wilson for their work conducting the Independent Review. I would also like to thank all stakeholders that closely engaged with the Reviewers, including all state and territory Police Commissioners.
The Independent Review was conducted in parallel to the 2024 Independent Intelligence Review. The findings from both reviews have been deconflicted.
