The ACIC reform package is an essential step in modernising and strengthening Australia’s response to serious and organised crime. It re-positions the ACIC with the intelligence functions and powers it requires to deliver its role as Australia’s national criminal intelligence agency.
I am here today as both the Director of the AIC and the CEO of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, and the theme of this year’s conference, transnational serious and organised crime, is one that both agencies contemplate daily.
I am pleased to appear before the Committee today for the examination of the ACIC’s 2024–25 Annual Report.
Today, I am here to discuss something that affects almost every Australian – often in ways that are hidden, underestimated or misunderstood – serious and organised crime.
The ACIC contributes wastewater and other data to partners so they can focus resources on drugs which pose the highest threat to the community and areas where drug consumption is highest.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) is working collaboratively with Commonwealth, state and territory stakeholders, including screening units and police agencies, to scope, design and trial a National Continuous Checking Capability (NCCC).
Serious and organised crime impacting Australia affects everyone. It threatens community safety and wellbeing, undermines our financial and tax systems and harms our most vulnerable people by defrauding the programs designed to support them.
We recognise the significant risk posed to the public and frontline personnel by unregistered and privately manufactured firearms, and we are actively monitoring this threat.
To help protect the Australian community, the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission works together with Australian police agencies to deliver the National Police Checking Service. The NPCS provides access to Nationally Coordinated Criminal History Checks, which are commonly referred to as police checks.
As of 1 October 2024, the National Criminal Investigation DNA Database (NCIDD) holds 1,885,882 DNA profiles that have been uploaded by Australian police from crime scenes, convicted offenders, suspects, volunteers, items belonging to missing persons and unknown human remains.