Anne Urquhart (Tasmania, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I, and also on behalf of Senator Keneally, move:

That—

(a) the Senate notes that:

  (i) Australia's financial intelligence agency, the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), produced a report in 2017 that found Australia's casinos are broadly aware of and comply with their anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism financing obligations regarding casino junkets, despite also noting that:

(A) there was 'strong growth' in the junket market, and

(B) junkets are high risk in terms of money laundering, and were increasingly featuring in money-laundering and proceeds of crime investigations (see AUSTRAC FOI Disclosure Log),

  (ii) the New South Wales Casino Inquiry has heard allegations that Crown Resorts partnered with junkets that were backed by organised crime syndicates, including an allegedly triad-controlled drug trafficking and money laundering organisation starting at least as early as 2015, two years before AUSTRAC's 2017 report (see NSW Casino Inquiry Hearing, 12 October 2020. pages pp.3945-3948),

  (iii) when questioned at Senate Estimates, the CEO of AUSTRAC, refused a request to release an unredacted version of the 2017 report on the basis that she 'no longer agrees' with the report and AUSTRAC has 'moved on' (Legal and Constitutional Committee, Budget Estimates, 20 October 2020, p. 65), and

  (iv) Australian Government agencies should not refuse access to the reports they have prepared or hold because they have 'moved on' or 'no longer agree' with their historical decisions;

(b) there be laid on the table by the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, by no later than 11.45 am on 12 November 2020, a copy of AUSTRAC's 2017 Casino Junkets Campaign Information Report; and

(c) when tabling the report, the Minister may only redact information if the Minister is aware the information would prejudice a current investigation.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Scott Ryan (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

Anne Ruston (SA, Liberal Party, Minister for Families and Social Services) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The government will not be opposing this order for the production of documents. The shadow minister's office has been informed of the government's intention to comply with the order.

Question agreed to.