NSW Government reforming Crime Commission
12th August 2012Ministerial media release
Minister for Police and Emergency Services Michael Gallacher today confirmed the Government is reforming the NSW Crime Commission.
"I am committed to driving reforms to the Crime Commission to strengthen and modernise the organisation so that it can get on with targeting serious organised crime," Minister Gallacher said.
"Last year, I commissioned an inquiry into the Crime Commission by former Judge, Mr David Patten.
"As a result of the Patten Report, there will be significant accountability measures implemented to provide oversight of the Crime Commission. These include:
- creation of the Office of the Inspector of the NSW Crime Commission,
- an independent Chair of the Management Committee (a former judge) in place of the Police Minister
- oversight by the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Office of the Ombudsman and Police Integrity Commission
- various enhanced internal audit and anti-corruption measures
"The Report makes 57 recommendations aimed at improving the governance and overall management of the Crime Commission and the Government has accepted the vast majority.
"A key reform is to ensure the Crime Commission can seize the assets of criminals without facing long and expensive court cases as criminals seek to hold onto their ill gotten gains.
"As we know confiscation of the proceeds of crime is a vital deterrent when dealing with organised crime and we want to ensure the Crime Commission can do this.
"The old threshold that matters can only be referred to the Crime Commission if ordinary police methods cannot be used will also be removed.
"Given the advancement in police methods this threshold is no longer useful, instead the NSW Crime Commission will be able to investigate a matter when it is in the public interest for them to do so.
"I am confident that our reforms get the balance right, of ensuring that there is stringent accountability and oversight of the Crime Commission while still enabling the Commission to complete its work in an ethical, effective and efficient manner.
"The Government will be introducing legislation to give effect to these reforms when Parliament resumes this week.
"The Government will be building on these reforms by shortly making an announcement on a new permanent Commissioner of the NSW Crime Commission and a new chairperson of the management committee," Minister Gallacher concluded.
NSW Government reforming Crime Commission (PDF 107KB)