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Chapter 1

Introduction

Background to the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity

1.1        The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (ACLEI) was established by the Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner Act 2006 (LEIC Act). The LEIC Act commenced operation on 30 December 2006.

1.2        The Act established a new office of Integrity Commissioner, supported by a statutory agency, ACLEI.

1.3        The main purpose of ACLEI is to 'enhance the integrity of Commonwealth law enforcement agencies by providing independent and effective external investigation of possible instances of corruption' in those agencies.[1]

1.4        ACLEI's role is 'to detect, investigate and prevent corruption in law enforcement agencies'. The Australian Government agencies that currently fall within its jurisdiction are the Australian Crime Commission (ACC) and the Australian Federal Police (AFP). ACLEI also has jurisdiction over the National Crime Authority (NCA), which was the forerunner to the ACC. Other Commonwealth agencies are able to be brought within ACLEI's jurisdiction by regulation.[2]

Requirement for the examination of the annual reports of the Integrity Commissioner

1.5        Section 215(c) of the LEIC Act requires that the Parliamentary Joint Committee on the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity (the committee) examine each annual report of the Integrity Commissioner and 'report to the Parliament on any matter appearing in, or arising out of, any such annual report'.[3]

1.6        The committee is satisfied that ACLEI has complied with all annual reporting requirements. These requirements are set out in Appendix 1.

Tabling of the Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner 2007-08

1.7        The Report was presented for tabling out of session on 30 October 2008 and was tabled in the Senate on 10 November 2008 and the House of Representatives on 13 November 2008, in accordance with section 201(1) of the LEIC Act.

Conduct of the inquiry

1.8        The committee held a public hearing to examine the report in Parliament House on 13 March 2009. The witnesses who appeared before the committee are listed in Appendix 2. Witnesses from ACLEI, the Australian Government Attorney-General's Department, the ACC and the AFP appeared at the hearing.

Acknowledgements

1.9        The committee would like to thank all witnesses who gave their time to give evidence at the public hearing.

Adoption of the report examining the Annual Report of the Integrity Commissioner 2007-2008

1.10      The committee adopted this report at a private meeting on 14 May 2009.

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