❓ Hon Aaron Stonehouse asks the Attorney General about the Auditor General's report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime, specifically regarding the creation of a centralised agency for confiscation activities and potential amendments to the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000. The question seeks the Attorney General's agreement with the Auditor General's findings and the DPP's recommendation.
AnsweredQoN 1315Legislative Council
QuestionView source ↗
(1) I refer the Minister to the
Auditor General’s recent report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime ,
and specifically to the correspondence on page 11, wherein the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) states that,
and I quote, “The DPP has long submitted that confiscations activities should
be centralised in one agency, with that agency having powers to investigate,
issue notices, manage property and conduct confiscation proceedings. This
would likely resolve, or at least make possible the resolution of, many of the
issues identified by the OAG. Creation of such an agency would require
amendment of the Criminal Property Confiscation Act.”
In light of that statement, I
ask: (a) does the Attorney General acknowledge and agree with Auditor General’s findings that: (i) no single agency knows what impact confiscating assets is having on crime; (ii) seized assets could be better managed than they are at present to minimise deterioration in condition and value between seizure and either sale or return of the asset; and (iii) more clarity is needed around the outcomes that the DPP and Western Australia Police are to achieve from the Confiscation Account funding they receive each year? (2) Does the Attorney General agree with the DPP submission recommending the creation of a single, centralised agency with the power to investigate, issue notices, manage property and conduct confiscation proceedings and, if yes, what form might such an agency take? (3) Does the Attorney General have any plans to review and
amend the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 beyond those already before
this Parliament?
Auditor General’s recent report on the Confiscation of the Proceeds of Crime ,
and specifically to the correspondence on page 11, wherein the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) states that,
and I quote, “The DPP has long submitted that confiscations activities should
be centralised in one agency, with that agency having powers to investigate,
issue notices, manage property and conduct confiscation proceedings. This
would likely resolve, or at least make possible the resolution of, many of the
issues identified by the OAG. Creation of such an agency would require
amendment of the Criminal Property Confiscation Act.”
In light of that statement, I
ask: (a) does the Attorney General acknowledge and agree with Auditor General’s findings that: (i) no single agency knows what impact confiscating assets is having on crime; (ii) seized assets could be better managed than they are at present to minimise deterioration in condition and value between seizure and either sale or return of the asset; and (iii) more clarity is needed around the outcomes that the DPP and Western Australia Police are to achieve from the Confiscation Account funding they receive each year? (2) Does the Attorney General agree with the DPP submission recommending the creation of a single, centralised agency with the power to investigate, issue notices, manage property and conduct confiscation proceedings and, if yes, what form might such an agency take? (3) Does the Attorney General have any plans to review and
amend the Criminal Property Confiscation Act 2000 beyond those already before
this Parliament?
AnswerView source ↗
Answered
15 August 2018
Responded by
Leader of the House representing the Attorney General
Response time
10 days
I thank the Hon member for notice of the question.
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