Summary

Amends the:

in relation to criminal asset confiscation and money laundering; to: enable seized material to be used by, and shared between, Commonwealth, state and territory law enforcement agencies; allow law enforcement agencies to access and search electronic equipment; and preserve the right of a person accused of a federal offence in Victoria to appeal a finding that he or she is unfit to plead; to: clarify the application of the Act to witnesses involved in state and territory matters; update the concept of identity; extend protection to former participants and related persons; and update and extend the scope of non-disclosure offences; and to: introduce offences into the Criminal Code to target persons involved in serious and organised crime; and ensure that telecommunications interception warrants are available for the investigation of the new offences; and to: extend the geographical jurisdiction and the scope of money laundering offences; and expand AUSTRAC’s ability to take enforcement action against non-complying reporting entities; to: expand the Australian Crime Commission’s powers to deal with uncooperative witnesses; clarify procedural powers for issuing summons and notices to produce; and require a five-yearly review of the operation of the Act; , and to make consequential amendments; and to: increase the penalties for bribing foreign and Commonwealth public officials; and provide that drug importation offences apply to offenders engaged in activity connected to the importation of drugs into Australia. Also amends 23 Acts consequent upon the joint commission offence being included in the Criminal Code; and amends 20 Acts consequent on provisions of the being repealed.