AUSTRALIA
The Prime Minister made the announcement on 30 January 2013.
Federal Police and I announced the results of an investigation into corruption and criminal conduct at Sydney international airport, including, regrettably, by a number of Customs and Border Protection officers”. Mr Pezzullo advised that two Customs and Border Protection Officers are facing charges which “include conspiracy to import a commercial quantity of border controlled drug precursors, abuse of public office and receiving a bribe”. Mr Pezzullo noted that the investigation is ongoing and “further arrests will be made, including, as I said earlier, of other Customs and Border Protection officers”. He stated that “this committee
operate from the dissolution of the House of Representatives until the election result is clear or, in the event of a change of government, until the new government is appointed”. The Cabinet Handbook also states that “it is also accepted that some care should be exercised in the period between the announcement of the election and the dissolution”. DPC also issues Guidance
on Caretaker Conventions which refer to the procedures for the pre-election consultation with the opposition. These guidelines state that the pre-consultation period “apply as soon as an election for the House of Representatives is announced or three months before the expiry of the House of Representatives, whichever occurs first”. During the estimates hearing, Sen. the Hon. George Brandis, MP, asserted that as the Prime Minister on 30 January had announced the election for 14 September, the opposition, in accordance with DPC’s guidelines was now entitled to receive pre- consultation briefings.
However, this point was
disputed. The Deputy Secretary of DPC Ms Renee Leon stated that “the Prime Minister announced in a speech to the National Press Club that she intended to advise the Governor-General to call the election on or around 12 August with the election to be held on 14 September. But she has not yet formally announced the election. That will occur on or around the time that the Prime Minister advises the Governor-General to dissolve the House of Representatives”. Senator Brandis responded that “the Prime Minister did not on 30 January announce that she intended to advise the Governor-General in the manner you have described. She actually announced the election date and those were her words”. Senator Brandis insisted that Ms Leon read back the exact words used by the Prime Minister on 30 January. Ms Leon complied and read out the Prime Minister’s statement: “So I today announce that later this year I will advise the Governor-
General to dissolve the House of Representatives with writs to be issued on Monday 12 August for an election for the House and half of the Senate to be held on Saturday 14 September.” Senator Brandis insisted that this was the announcement of the election whereas Ms Leon argued that the Prime Minister expressed herself in the future tense with the operative words “I will advise”.
Internal inquiries in the Australian Customs Service The Senate Legal and Constitutional Legislation Committee examined the Australian Customs Service (ACS) about allegations of infiltration by organized crime. The Chief Executive Officer of Customs, Mr Mike Pezzullo noted in his opening address that “the committee should expect more arrests of Customs and Border Protection officers as a result of ongoing investigations”. Mr Pezzullo reported that “on 20 December last year, the Minister for Home Affairs, the Commissioner of the Australian
can be assured that the service is committed to securing our borders and taking strong, resolute and urgent action to deal with those amongst us who have not upheld the required standards”. Senator Gary Humphries
asked if “organized crime, has “obtained a toehold in this organization”. Mr Pezzullo responded that
“just referring to nothing more than the statement of facts and matters that have been alleged in public criminal hearings: the conspiracies involved in the importation events involved activity not just between Customs officers but between Customs officers and outside associates who themselves are engaged in criminal activity. Whether they meet the definition of serious and organized crime or organized criminality or whether they are opportunistic, I do not want to go to, per se. That is a matter for the Federal Police, essentially, to pursue. You asked whether organized crime has a toehold. Certainly some criminal elements have been associating with some of our officers in a manner that is unacceptable, and those officers are being dealt with”.
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