[Greens-Media] CUSTOMS REFORM NEEDS NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY: GREENS

[Stahel, Peter (Sen C. Milne)]

CUSTOMS REFORM NEEDS NATIONAL ANTI-CORRUPTION AGENCY: GREENS

The Australian Greens back reform of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and welcome action to stamp out corruption.

"Cracking down on corruption in the Customs Service is long overdue but would be complemented by a National Integrity Commission," said Australian Greens Leader Christine Milne.

"The Greens have been pushing for a new anti-corruption body to oversee both public officials and Commonwealth agencies including the Australian Federal Police and Customs Service since before the last election.

"I am pleased Labor has finally recognised there needs to be major structural and cultural reforms to address the presence of organised crime and corruption within the service but it needs to be within an established national framework and covered by strong whistleblower protection.

"Further it's not enough to take action to prevent future corruption when there is a possibility that past incidents have contaminated evidence, or worse, put innocent people behind bars. 

"We call on the Labor government to review the cases of all Australians currently being held overseas on drugs charges.

"If we don't analyse whether or not information about corrupt customs screenings has impacted on previous drugs cases overseas, we may as well pretend it never happened.

"As we move to improve practices, we need to have absolute confidence that corruption at home hasn't already put innocent Australians at risk in other jurisdictions.

"Assistance should be provided to Australians being held overseas to review whether the information contained in this report and previous allegations could have an impact on their cases," said Senator Milne.

In February 2013, Senator Milne wrote to Foreign Minister Bob Carr to ask:
"In light of the Allan Kessing reports on gaps in airport security, and the ongoing investigations into organised crime and corruption, is the evidence which was used for the conviction of Australians imprisoned in Indonesia being reviewed?"

The Minister responded in April 2013:
"... it is for individual Australian prisoners to consider any such issues in consultation with their legal representation as part of any appeal process open to them."

Senator Milne wrote further in May 2013:
"I do not accept that the government has no role to play in this process. The government and the Australian Federal Police have the information that would enable examination of the overlap in timing between the alleged corrupt behaviour in customs services and the dates on which Australians imprisoned overseas travelled. I believe it is incumbent on the government to provide this information to the relevant legal representatives to allow them to take action if appropriate."

Media contact: Peter Stahel 0437 587 562