Chris Hayes (Fowler, Australian Labor Party) Share this | Hansard source

On behalf of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement, I present the committee's report, entitled Inquiry into the adequacy of aviation and maritime security measures to combat serious and organised crime. Since September 2009, the committee on law enforcement has been examining the security of Australia's aviation and maritime sectors. Specifically, the committee has been inquiring into whether our current security arrangements are adequate in the face of this threat from criminal networks, particularly at our airports and seaports. Overall, the committee received a large amount of information and evidence pointing to the ongoing penetration of our airports and seaports by organised crime. The committee is deeply concerned about the level of organised criminal activity occurring in our aviation and maritime sectors.

A key driver for this criminal activity continues to be the illicit profits made from the importation of drugs. The committee heard that a kilo of cocaine, perhaps sourced from a country such as Colombia, might be purchased for a few thousand dollars but has a wholesale price in Australia of around $300,000, with a street price of $1 million—quite a lucrative proposition. As the majority of illicit drugs are sourced overseas, either in their final form or as precursor chemicals, this lucrative trade leads to corruption at our main points of entry. Regrettably, there are a small number of individuals working within the aviation and maritime sectors, either recruited or placed by criminal networks, and they play a disproportionately large role in successful criminal activity.

The current security regime in the aviation and maritime sectors was introduced post September 11 and in our opinion is far too narrowly focused on the threat of terrorist attacks within these sectors. While the committee agrees that such security measures are vital for the safety of the community, I believe that the security regime should be extended to defend against the threat of organised crime. This is in line with this government's 2008 National Security Statement, which identified serious and organised crime as a threat to national security.

A key recommendation is the strengthening of the aviation and maritime security identification card schemes. During the course of the inquiry the committee became aware that a number of individuals known to be closely involved with criminal activity continue to hold these cards, allowing them free access to sensitive areas. As such, the committee has recommended that such individuals could have their cards revoked on the basis of compelling criminal intelligence. Further changes to the ASIC and MSIC schemes recommended by the committee include their expansion to cover important elements of the supply chain outside of airport or seaport environments and the introduction of biometric information to simplify and strengthen the management of the system.

The committee also spent considerable time examining the law enforcement response to organised crime in the aviation and maritime sectors and the importance of criminal intelligence. Apart from targeted police operations, intelligence is useful at a strategic level, to build a picture of criminality that allows not just reactive intervention but also proactive prevention. The committee is therefore keen to see an enhanced analytical use of intelligence from all sources and supports ongoing efforts that would allow such a 'fusion' to take place. The committee has been encouraged by the development of joint agency task forces that exist now in a number of states and has recommended that these be applied in all jurisdictions. State based task forces should be supplemented by an AFP led flying squad that would direct a joint agency response to trouble spots on an ongoing basis as needed.

Importantly, the committee has recom­mended a number of enhancements to the air passenger environment. Organised crime figures are currently able to travel under false identities with impunity while facilitating criminal activity. In response, the committee has recommended that travelling under a false identity be made an offence. In addition, the committee has also recommended that the provision of photo identification by passengers be made mandatory prior to boarding a plane. Serious and organised crime continues to threaten Australia's community and is estimated to cost the national economy more than $15 billion each year. We must continually adapt to this ever-evolving threat. I commend the report to the House.

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