Joint media release with the Hon Julian Hill MP
Australia needs a dedicated national criminal intelligence agency to counter the growing threat posed by serious and organised crime.
Legislation introduced to parliament will ensure the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) has the intelligence-focused functions and capabilities it needs to respond to a threat environment that is increasingly complex, borderless and digitally enabled.
Serious and organised crime threatens the safety and wellbeing of Australian communities and has a significant financial impact, costing an estimated $82.3 billion in 2023-24.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission Bill 2026 (the Bill) will ensure the ACIC is able to collect and share intelligence on serious and organised crime, while continuing to provide critical national policing information systems and undertake nationally coordinated criminal history checks to keep Australians safe.
Serious and organised crime groups are opportunistic, highly adaptive, sophisticated, borderless and increasingly embedding themselves in legitimate systems. The Bill underlines this Government's commitment to protecting the Australian community by ensuring we are taking action to adapt and respond to the rapidly evolving landscape of serious and organised crime.
The Bill will replace the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002 and implements the Government's response to the Independent Review of the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and associated Commonwealth law enforcement arrangements, published in November 2024.
Key measures include updated intelligence collection powers and a streamlined framework for sharing information with law enforcement and other partners. The ACIC's delivery of national policing information systems and services will continue.
The ACIC will remain subject to robust oversight, including by the Inspector‑General of Intelligence and Security and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security.
The Bill has been referred to the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security for inquiry and report.
Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs, Tony Burke
"Serious and organised crime costs Australian families and businesses billions of dollars every year and poses a significant threat to community safety."
"A national criminal intelligence agency equipped with the appropriate powers and intelligence capabilities is vital to combatting criminal networks now and into the future."
"This legislation ensures the ACIC has the modern tools and frameworks it needs to respond to an increasingly complex and evolving threat environment, accompanied by the robust safeguards and oversight Australians expect."
Quotes attributable to Assistant Minister for Citizenship, Customs and Multicultural Affairs, Julian Hill
"It is imperative that we equip our agencies with the powers and capabilities they need to safeguard the community from threat of serious and organised crime."
"Serious and organised criminal groups have been put on notice - this legislation presents a significant overhaul of the ACIC, modernising its operations and intelligence sharing capabilities to target and undermine criminal ventures."
"It takes a network to break a network - collaboration is essential in the fight against serious and organised crime."
"Ensuring the ACIC can more effectively share intelligence with partners will put law enforcement another step ahead of organised crime."
