Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

I do thank honourable members for their contributions to the debate on this bill. The bill will update, improve and clarify the intended operation of key provisions in the Crimes Act 1914, the Criminal Code Act 1995 and the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002. These amendments are required to support the proper administration of justice and to combat serious and organised crime. Just to remind honourable members, as I said in introducing this legislation, in the last year for which accurate statistics are available, 2020-21, the Australian Institute of Criminology has estimated that serious and organised crime cost the Australian community over $60 billion. Serious and organised crime is a major threat to our country. It's the reason why the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission was established. It's the reason why the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission continues to work every day with state and territory police forces and with the Australian Federal Police to undertake the vital work that they have in combating serious and organised crime.

The amendments to the Crimes Act in schedule 1 of the bill will provide certainty that the Attorney-General has unambiguous authority to make parole order decisions for federal offenders even if an offender's non-parole period has expired. It's a simple but useful change to the Crimes Act.

The amendments in schedule 2 of the bill will support law enforcement agencies to manage the threat of serious and organised crime by enhancing import controls on chemicals that are commonly used by serious and organised crime groups to manufacture illicit drugs. These amendments will ensure that the importation of these substances by entities not registered with the Australian Industrial Chemicals Introduction Scheme will be subject to appropriate criminal penalties and will be subject to seizure by the Australian Border Force.

Finally, the amendments in schedule 3 will ensure that the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission can continue to undertake its vital statutory function to combat serious and organised crime in Australia and keep the Australian community safe.

I would say to the member for Melbourne that it is standard practice for governments to make amendments to acts such as this to ensure that agencies can undertake their vital statutory functions.

In conclusion, the Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Omnibus No. 2) Bill 2023 will assist law enforcement and the intelligence agencies in their vital work of protecting the Australian community.

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