Targeting ‘unexplained wealth’ is important for tackling organised crime

Labor’s federal budget places $130 million towards combating organised crime and "unexplained wealth" which will be “hitting criminals where it hurts”, says ASPI Head of Strategic Policing and Law Enforcement Dr John Coyne.

“It’s hard to find organised crime groups who aren’t trying to money launder across borders,” Mr Coyne told Sky News Australia host Amanda Stoker.

“So the federal government has an important place and part to play in this.

“Unexplained wealth provisions and to put it in very clear terms – those people who are living beyond their means and by that I mean … driving extensive collections of expensive cars, taking regular overseas holidays, flying in charted aircrafts.

“That spending including luxury goods that can’t be explained by a legitimate income – this taskforce should be targeting them – seizing that unexplained wealth to deny them the opportunities of enjoying the fruits of their crime.”