Consorting laws for the ACT: discussion paper

The Attorney-General Simon Corbell MLA has released a Discussion Paper to provide the community and stakeholders with an opportunity to consider and provide input on the potential introduction of consorting laws for the ACT to target serious and organised criminal activity. On 5 June 2015, the Chief Minister Mr Andrew Barr MLA outlined the government’s strategic priorities for 2015‑16, including ‘Enhancing liveability & social inclusion’. Under this priority the government has committed to ‘[t]ackling Organised Crime’ which includes ‘implement[ing] new laws to combat organised criminal groups, including outlaw motorcycle clubs’. This priority is consistent with the ACT Government’s ongoing approach to addressing serious and organised crime, which includes pursuing considered and targeted responses to the threats posed by this type of crime within the Territory. This is the approach that the Government continues to take. In June 2016 the Attorney-General will introduce the Crimes (Serious and Organised Crime) Legislation Amendment Bill 2016 to make a number of amendments to the ACT’s laws targeting serious and organised crime and other criminal activity. These amendments are primarily aimed at individual criminal activity with the goal of disrupting the work of the organised group. Given this approach, public consultation marks an important step in the development of Government policy on consorting laws for the ACT. The input received from interested parties will significantly assist the Government in assessing options and in raising further issues for consideration. The Discussion Paper provides background information about the nature of serious and organised crime and the application of consorting laws in Australian jurisdictions. It also outlines a potential model for consorting legislation that could be adopted in the Territory. The final part of the Discussion Paper highlights a number of key issues for consideration