A collaborative approach is required to effectively protect Australia against criminal threats. Task forces include members from law enforcement, the regulatory sector, peak bodies and the private sector. These members work together to reduce the impact of serious and organised crime on Australia.
The Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) provides insight into the task forces it participates in, what these task forces seek to achieve, and who the other members are.
Black Economy Standing Taskforce
The “black economy”, which is now known as the “shadow economy”, refers to dishonest and criminal activities that take place outside the tax and regulatory systems.
The Black Economy Standing Taskforce (BEST) works to reduce the impact and incidence of the shadow economy on the Australian community.
BEST seeks to detect, deter, investigate and enforce the law relating to shadow economy activities such as tax evasion, abuse of the welfare system, exploitation of workers, money laundering and fraud.
This task force includes the ACIC, Australian Taxation Office (ATO), the Department of Home Affairs including Australian Border Force, Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC), Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions (CDPP), Services Australia, Attorney-General’s Department, Fair Work Ombudsman and The Treasury.
Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce
The Criminal Assets Confiscation Taskforce (CACT) is led by the Australian Federal Police (AFP), and also includes the ACIC, ATO, AUSTRAC and the ABF.
The CACT identifies and pursues proceeds of crime to ensure that criminals do not benefit from them. The CACT can confiscate assets where there is a link to a Commonwealth offence.
Illicit Tobacco Taskforce
It is illegal to grow tobacco in Australia, and excise is payable on all legally imported tobacco products. The Illicit Tobacco Taskforce (ITTF) targets, disrupts and dismantles organised crime syndicates that deal in illicit tobacco. It also targets associated money laundering.
The ITTF is led by the Australian Border Force and draws on the expertise and capabilities of the Department of Home Affairs, the ACIC, AUSTRAC, the CDPP and the ATO.
Joint organised crime task forces
The ACIC cooperates with joint organised crime task forces in Victoria, Western Australia, the Northern Territory and Queensland. These task forces investigate, collect intelligence on and disrupt high-risk entities, either domestically or offshore, to reduce the threat of high-risk targets which operate regionally but have a national impact.
National Task Force Morpheus
The National Task Force Morpheus (Morpheus) is a joint law enforcement initiative through which all Australian state and territory police, the AFP National Anti-Gangs Squad, the ACIC, other Australian Government partners and New Zealand Police collaboratively target the highest threat outlaw motorcycle gangs (OMCGs) impacting Australia.
Morpheus targets high threat OMCGs operating across both domestic and international borders, as well as professional facilitators who assist OMCGs to carry out their illegal activities.
Phoenix Taskforce
The Phoenix Taskforce combats illegal phoenix activity, which occurs when a company liquidates its operations to avoid paying its creditors, taxes and other regulatory payments.
The Phoenix Taskforce includes 39 Commonwealth, state and territory government agencies, including the ACIC, ATO, Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) and the Fair Work Ombudsman.
In addition to disrupting phoenix operators, the Phoenix Taskforce can also apply financial penalties, and prosecute the worst offenders.
Vestigo Task Force
ACIC leads the Vestigo Task Force which provides a framework for enhanced collaboration and engagement with Australian and international partners to share information and intelligence.
The Vestigo Task Force is supported by the ACIC’s Commonwealth, state and territory partners, along with international partners including the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group.
Rather than consisting of a particular program of work the Vestigo Task Force acts as an enabler for the ACIC’s collaborative work across various operations and investigations which addressing a range of serious and organised crime threats that impact Australia.
Serious Financial Crime Taskforce
The Serious Financial Crime Taskforce (SFCT) targets serious financial crime in Australia, with a focus on offshore tax evasion, illegal phoenix activity, cybercrime affecting the tax and superannuation systems, and serious financial crime relating to the COVID-19 pandemic.
The ATO-led SFCT also includes the ACIC, AFP, Attorney-General’s Department, AUSTRAC, ASIC, CDPP, Australian Border Force and Services Australia.
Key takeaways
Task forces help to protect Australia against a range of threats including shadow economy activities, money laundering and proceeds of crime, specific organised crime threats such as illicit tobacco operations and outlaw motorcycle gang activities, illegal phoenix activity, and serious financial crime. Task forces include members from law enforcement, the regulatory sector, peak bodies and the private sector, who work together to reduce the impact of these crimes on Australia.
