Convicting organised crime gangs, such as the Mafia, outlaw motorcycle gangs, and Chinese Triads, may soon become easier through a project involving UQ researcher, Dr Andreas Schloenhardt.
Dr Schloenhardt, from the University's TC Beirne School of Law is working in collaboration with the Australian Institute of Criminology, the Australian Federal Police and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.
The project aims to develop recommendations for law reform and policy change in the fight against organised crime in Australia and the Asia Pacific.
This research project coincides with a federal parliamentary inquiry into the effectiveness of organised crime laws and South Australia’s introduction of the controversial Serious and Organised Crime Act 2008.
By analysing the effectiveness of organised crime offences under domestic and international laws and adopting measures consistent with UN Convention Against Transnational Organised Crime, Dr Schloenhardt hopes that his recommendations for changes to current legislation will be adopted by Federal, State and territory governments.
“Organised crime continues to be of great concern to the Australian public and governments are aware of the significant challenges they face in the criminal justice system,” Dr Schloenhardt said.
“The ‘bikie gang war’ on the Gold Coast and in Adelaide, and the gangland killings in Melbourne have again brought the topic of organised crime back into the public eye in recent years.”
“The current system makes it difficult to hold directors and financiers of organised crime responsible if they have no actual involvement in the execution of the criminal activities”, he said.
With the exception of NSW and now also South Australia, no state or territory in Australia has any specific offences in relation to organised crime.
Media: Dr Schloenhardt 07 3365 6191 or 0438 303 442 or Teola Marsh at 07 3365 2523.
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