Funding allocated to CMC for phone-tapping capabilities

Attorney-General and Minister for Industrial Relations
The Honourable Cameron Dick
21/03/2010
Funding allocated to CMC for phone-tapping capabilities

The Bligh Government has demonstrated its commitment to fighting serious organised crime, corruption and paedophilia in Queensland by providing significant new funding to the Crime and Misconduct Commission for phone-tapping capabilities.

Attorney-General Cameron Dick said the government had allocated $14 million over five years to the CMC for telecommunication interception capacity, including $605,000 this financial year to implement the system.

He said the funding would allow the CMC to use telephone interception powers on three main operational areas: corruption and serious misconduct; organised crime such as drug trafficking, extortion and fraud; and paedophilia and child sex offences.

"Telecommunication interception has long been recognised as an appropriate and effective tool for fighting serious and organised crime, both within Australia and throughout the world," Mr Dick said.

"Last year, the Queensland Parliament passed the Telecommuni cations Interception Act 2009, which meant the state's crime-fighting bodies can pursue telephone interceptions within a framework that also has strict civil liberties and compliance safeguards.

"With these laws, Queensland's crime-fighting bodies can independently apply for telecommunications interception warrants when investigating serious crime and corruption.

"The Bligh Government is backing up the introduction of these powers with funding to enable the CMC to set up long-term telecommunications intercept capabilities in conjunction with the Australian Crime Commission.

"Since the laws were passed last year, the CMC has been operating an interim system while the government considered funding requests for a full telephone interception function.

"Now, with this substantial funding injection, the CMC will be fully operational with regard to telephone interception from the 1st of July this year.

"It will complete the recruiting process for its Electronic Collections Unit so that it will be at full capacity by the start of the new financial year."

Mr Dick said the funding meant that the CMC could conduct its own investigations and interception activities independent to the police, reducing the risk of any investigation being compromised.

He said the Bligh Government was committed to providing police and law enforcement agencies with the powers they need to crack down on serious criminal activity.

"Enhancing the investigative resources of the CMC through the provision of stand-alone telecommunication interception capabilities demonstrates our commitment," Mr Dick said.

Permanent Link: Funding allocated to CMC for phone-tapping capabilities
Publish Date: 21 Mar 10