Transnational, serious and organised crime threatens the safety, security and trust of Australian citizens, the prosperity of our businesses and economy, the integrity of our institutions, and ultimately presents a significant threat to national security.
This article explores the key threats as well as Australia’s National Strategy to Fight Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime.
What is transnational, serious and organised crime?
Transnational, serious and organised crime (TSOC) covers a wide range of the most serious crime threats impacting Australia including:
- Manufacture and trade of illicit commodities, including drugs and firearms.
- Cybercrime.
- Sexual exploitation of children.
- Human trafficking and slavery.
- Serious financial crime.
Key enablers of TSOC include money laundering, identity crime and public sector corruption.
70 percent of Australia’s TSOC threats are based offshore or have strong offshore links, but the impacts are felt locally.
Recent research by the Australian Institute of Criminology indicates that TSOC costs Australia up to $47.4 billion annually.
National Strategy to Fight Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime
The National Strategy to Fight Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime (the “National Strategy”) provides the framework for governments, the private sector, civil society organisations, academia and the community to work together to secure Australia’s national interests in combatting TSOC.
The National Strategy outlines four pillars that will strategically guide national efforts to fight TSOC, and inform existing and future crime-specific action plans.
Pillar one: Integrated
This pillar focuses on using all available tools to fight TSOC, and deploying the right interventions at the right points, to have maximum impact on criminal business models.
Available tools include using research and intelligence, preventive measures including education and awareness raising, intervention and diversion activities, through to disruption, interdiction, investigation and prosecution.
Pillar two: United
This pillar focuses on working effectively across governments, domestically and internationally, the private sector, community, civil society and academia to realise the shared vision of a more secure Australia.
Pillar three: Capable
This pillar focuses on strengthening the national capability to fight transnational, serious and organised crime – now and into the future.
This will be pursued across the four enduring national capabilities of workforce and people, systems and processes, technology and infrastructure, and intelligence and data.
Pillar four: Evolving
This pillar focuses on being agile and ahead of the changing threat, as well as continuously improving, and demonstrating success.
The Australian Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime Committee (ATSOCC)
The governance body overseeing the implementation of the National Strategy is the Australian Transnational Serious and Organised Crime Committe (ATSOCC).
The ATSOCC’s mission is to:
- Oversee the implementation and monitoring of the National Strategy.
- Build on understandings of current and emerging TSOC threats and enablers on a national and international level, drawing on existing threat assessments.
- Provide strategic and policy advice to government ministers on national priorities to combat TSOC.
- Provide a forum that maintains and enhances inter-jurisdictional cooperation and collaboration across all levels of government to identify, develop and progress opportunities to implement a multi-faceted and holistic approach to combatting TSOC using all available tools.
- Enhance capability to combat TSOC at a national level and within each state and territory.
Membership of the ATSOCC comprises a senior official from each Australian policing, and Justice or Attorneys-General agency; New Zealand Police; New Zealand Ministry of Justice; AUSTRAC; the ACIC; the Office of National Intelligence; the Australian Border Force; and the Department of Home Affairs.
Key takeaways
Transnational, serious and organised crime (TSOC) presents a significant national security threat to Australia. The National Strategy to fight this type of crime focuses on using all available tools to fight TSOC, working effectively across all sectors, strengthening Australia’s national capability, and being agile and ahead of the changing threat. The Australian Transnational, Serious and Organised Crime Committee (ATSOCC) is the governance body overseeing the implementation of the National Strategy.
