❓ The Attorney General provides an update on the impact of the McGowan Labor government's unexplained wealth laws, detailing the number of targets identified and referrals received by the Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC) since the laws were enacted.
AnsweredQoN 248Legislative Assembly
QuestionView source ↗
CORRUPTION AND CRIME
COMMISSION — UNEXPLAINED WEALTH PROVISIONS
248. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Attorney General:
I refer to the new powers given to
the Corruption and Crime Commission to fight corruption and organised crime in Western
Australia, including those crimes syndicates that deal in methamphetamine and
other drugs. Can the Attorney General update
the house on the impact so far of the McGowan Labor government's
unexplained wealth laws?
COMMISSION — UNEXPLAINED WEALTH PROVISIONS
248. Mr T.J. HEALY to the Attorney General:
I refer to the new powers given to
the Corruption and Crime Commission to fight corruption and organised crime in Western
Australia, including those crimes syndicates that deal in methamphetamine and
other drugs. Can the Attorney General update
the house on the impact so far of the McGowan Labor government's
unexplained wealth laws?
AnswerView source ↗
I thank the member for Southern
River for his question.
I have a couple of notes here about
the figures. It is the case that a McGowan Labor government equipped the
Corruption and Crime Commission with new powers to go after unexplained wealth
in September of last year. I am pleased to inform the house that the Corruption
and Crime Commissioner has wasted little time in identifying and actively
pursuing targets. In the six months since these important new powers were
conferred on the CCC, it has internally generated four targets. I am pleased to
note that three reports of unexplained wealth have been referred to it by
members of the public. Strong working relationships have been developed with
other key law enforcement entities and it is also evident in the number of
referrals the CCC has had from the following agencies: the Australian Federal
Police has referred seven unexplained wealth matters to the CCC; seven have
come from Western Australia Police Force; five have come from Racing and
Wagering Western Australia; and one each from the Australian Border Force and
the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. In total, 28 potential
unexplained wealth matters have come into the CCC's orbit. Of those,
one has already become the subject of an operation, six are the subject of an
initial investigation, two are currently being appraised, one will be reviewed
within 12 months and seven were appraised and found not to be viable for filed
intelligence. Eleven matters are yet to commence. The McGowan Labor government
was very clear when introducing these extraordinary new powers that they were
intended to curb the activities of those in the drug trade and other criminal
activities—for individuals who put themselves beyond the reach of the
police and profit from the misery without getting their hands dirty. I say very
clearly to those individuals that the CCC, as demonstrated in its report tabled
in Parliament on 12 March 2019, is highly motivated and adept in following the
money trail, so it would pay to fully cooperate when Commissioner John
McKechnie, QC, and the commission comes calling upon them to give an
explanation for their unexplained riches.
River for his question.
I have a couple of notes here about
the figures. It is the case that a McGowan Labor government equipped the
Corruption and Crime Commission with new powers to go after unexplained wealth
in September of last year. I am pleased to inform the house that the Corruption
and Crime Commissioner has wasted little time in identifying and actively
pursuing targets. In the six months since these important new powers were
conferred on the CCC, it has internally generated four targets. I am pleased to
note that three reports of unexplained wealth have been referred to it by
members of the public. Strong working relationships have been developed with
other key law enforcement entities and it is also evident in the number of
referrals the CCC has had from the following agencies: the Australian Federal
Police has referred seven unexplained wealth matters to the CCC; seven have
come from Western Australia Police Force; five have come from Racing and
Wagering Western Australia; and one each from the Australian Border Force and
the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre. In total, 28 potential
unexplained wealth matters have come into the CCC's orbit. Of those,
one has already become the subject of an operation, six are the subject of an
initial investigation, two are currently being appraised, one will be reviewed
within 12 months and seven were appraised and found not to be viable for filed
intelligence. Eleven matters are yet to commence. The McGowan Labor government
was very clear when introducing these extraordinary new powers that they were
intended to curb the activities of those in the drug trade and other criminal
activities—for individuals who put themselves beyond the reach of the
police and profit from the misery without getting their hands dirty. I say very
clearly to those individuals that the CCC, as demonstrated in its report tabled
in Parliament on 12 March 2019, is highly motivated and adept in following the
money trail, so it would pay to fully cooperate when Commissioner John
McKechnie, QC, and the commission comes calling upon them to give an
explanation for their unexplained riches.
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