ACIC review prompts changes
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The Australian Government has announced changes to the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) following the release of an independent review.
Led by Stephen Merchant PSM and Greg Wilson, the review identified shortcomings in the ACIC’s legislative framework and operations, outlining 29 recommendations to reposition it as a leading force against serious and organised crime, which costs the nation over $60 billion annually.
Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus says the government has agreed to implement 27 of the recommendations, either in full or in principle.
The reforms aim to clarify the ACIC’s role, modernise its laws, improve governance, and establish stronger safeguards for its coercive powers.
Merchant and Wilson found that the ACIC has struggled to define its identity, operating at times as an intelligence agency and at others as a law enforcement body, depending on leadership preferences.
They described the organisation as “neither fish nor fowl” and called for a sharper focus on criminal intelligence.
Central to the review’s findings was the need to overhaul the Australian Crime Commission Act 2002, described as “no longer fit for purpose”.
Merchant argued the Act’s broad scope muddied the ACIC’s purpose, forcing it to use investigative tools designed for evidence collection rather than intelligence.
A new framework is expected to align its covert powers, such as telecommunications and surveillance, with its intelligence mandate, while maintaining legal robustness through a “double lock” approval process involving both the Attorney-General and an independent examiner.
The review also underscored the complexity of modern organised crime, which increasingly operates across jurisdictions and national borders.
It proposed that the ACIC prioritise delivering incisive intelligence to assist Commonwealth, state, and territory agencies.
This shift, the review suggested, would help the ACIC regain its “distinct value-adding role” in fighting transnational crime.
Governance structures are set to be transformed, with the ACIC’s board to be replaced by a National Committee to Combat Serious and Organised Crime.
This body will develop strategies and set priorities for tackling criminal networks.
Parliamentary oversight will move from the Joint Committee on Law Enforcement to the Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, reflecting the ACIC’s redefined role as an intelligence agency.
Mark Dreyfus says the government is determined to ensure the ACIC delivers actionable intelligence to disrupt criminal networks and protect the economy.
Beyond structural changes, the review called for improved public engagement. It recommended the ACIC publish an annual threat assessment to increase awareness of organised crime and boost its public profile.
Enhanced recruitment strategies were also proposed to attract skilled intelligence analysts, supported by stable funding to ensure the agency’s long-term sustainability.
The scale of reforms reflects a recognition that organised crime has grown more sophisticated, often exploiting gaps in Australia’s intelligence and law enforcement frameworks.
Merchant noted the ACIC must arm agencies with intelligence on networks, methodologies, and vulnerabilities to help shape both policy and operational responses.
