Key Elements
The Australian Government has committed $4.2 million to continue funding the Australian Crime Commission's (ACC) targeted intelligence operations relating to child abuse and violence within Indigenous communities in the Northern Territory (NT).Background
This Budget initiative builds on establishment funding provided during the 2007-08 financial year to expand the National Indigenous Violence and Child Abuse Intelligence Task Force (NIITF), as part of the Northern Territory Emergency Response (NTER).As part of the NTER, the application of ACC's special coercive powers was extended in 2007 to include Indigenous violence and child abuse. The ACC Board has since approved the use of these powers, which has enabled the NIITF to undertake targeted special intelligence operations in the Northern Territory and elsewhere as required.
Improved intelligence collection will enable the ACC to deliver contemporary advice on the extent and nature of criminal activities and other factors that may be contributing to violence and child abuse in Indigenous communities.
Intelligence will also provide an evidence base for improved responses to child abuse and violence in Indigenous communities across Australia. The work of the NIITF will contribute to the whole-of-government approach to reducing the life expectancy gap between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Australians.
The NT intelligence operations extend the work of the NIITF, which began its operations in December 2006. The NIITF plays a key role in collecting, analysing and sharing intelligence about crimes relating to Indigenous violence and child abuse. Intelligence will be provided to NT Police to assist their investigations and prosecutions against the perpetrators of these crimes.