Karen Andrews (McPherson, Liberal Party, Minister for Home Affairs) Share this | Hansard source

I thank the member for her question. The Morrison government knows that the safety and security of our families and communities is central to what makes Australia great. That's why we've maintained our strong borders, which has kept Australians safe and secure during this pandemic. But we also know that COVID is not the only threat to our community's safety. Organised crime gangs have found new ways to adapt and grow their evil trade in the COVID environment, whether it's preying on vulnerable people who are spending more time online or using the dark web to offer a range of illicit products and services, including child sexual abuse. Also, as our ports and airports have adapted to changing demands, they are being targeted by criminal gangs as gateways for drugs and weapons trafficking—drugs and weapons that can only end up on our streets, making them less safe for mums, for dads, for kids, for grandparents and, of course, for all of our individuals right through our Australian society.

That is not the Australian way and not something that we will tolerate under our watch. That's why we are tackling organised crime and unlawful gangs across all our national security agencies, including through the specialised national task force Morpheus, which targets the highest-risk outlaw motorcycle gangs. It is also why we are delivering a funding boost in the budget of almost $52 million for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and almost $60 million for the Australian Federal Police. We are getting results.

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