This government is somewhat selective in the crimes it highlights and pursues
Monday, 24 June 2013
UNCLASSIFIED
THE HON. JASON CLARE MP
CABINET SECRETARY
MINISTER FOR HOME AFFAIRS
MINISTER FOR JUSTICE
MEDIA RELEASE
24 June 2013
Mick Palmer and Ken Moroney appointed to break deadlock on National Unexplained Wealth laws
Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today appointed former Australian Federal Police Commissioner Mick Palmer AO APM and former New South Wales Police Commissioner Ken Moroney AO APM to work with the Federal, State and Territory Governments to break the deadlock on national unexplained wealth laws.
The appointments come in response to a recommendation of the Police Federation of Australia to appoint an eminent person’s panel to assist in reaching agreement on a national approach to targeting unexplained wealth and organised crime.
Mick Palmer is a career police officer with more than three decades of experience in policing and law enforcement.
He served as Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Service agency from 1988-1994 and as Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police from 1994 until March 2001.
Ken Moroney served as a member of the NSW Police Force between 1965 and 2007. Between 2002 and his retirement, Mr Moroney served as the 20th Commissioner of the NSW Police Force, commanding a force of 19,500 personnel with an annual budget of $2.2 billion.
Unexplained wealth laws reverse the onus of proof so criminals have to prove their wealth was obtained legally. It makes it easier to confiscate their assets and is one of the most effective ways to bring down organised criminals.
“Serious and organised crime is all about money. Money creates power in the criminal underworld. Most of the criminals are more afraid of losing their money than they are of going to jail.” Mr Clare said.
“If we are serious about tackling organised crime, one of the key things we have to do is rip their assets off them.”
National unexplained wealth laws were a bipartisan recommendation of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement. The proposal has been put to State and Territory Attorney’s General twice and been rejected. It was placed on the agenda at the Council of Australian Governments meeting in April where the States and Territories again did not agree to reform.
“I hope the appointment of Mick Palmer and Ken Moroney with their deep knowledge and experience in law enforcement will break this deadlock and lead to strong national unexplained wealth laws.” Mr Clare said.