Law Enforcement

Australia - Federal

Insurance Fraud Hotline

If you have information that you believe in good faith is insurance fraud, report it NOW at www.insurancefraudhotline.com.au

New Australian Consumer Law

The new Trade Practices Amendment (Australian Consumer Law) Act (No. 2) 2010 impacts on everyone - consumers, businesses, credit providers and anyone offering, selling, demanding, promising, etc anything in Australia. It's an uniform law and from 1 January 2011 it will eliminate all the differing state laws, mostly as implemented by Fair Trading offices.

Several important downloads:

..................................................................

Australian Government's crime prevention initiatives

Internet fraud can be investigated even if it involves websites and actions occurring overseas and affecting you in Australia. The Australian Hi-tech Crime Centre has extensive resources and achieves results.

Australian Customs Service - www.customs.gov.au

Australian Federal Police investigates Commonewalth terrorist offences, provides overseas liaison and protective services and performs a state policing function in the ACT. It includes the Australian Bomb Data Centre, which collects data and advises on the illegal use of explosives - www.afp.gov.au

Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency is responsible for protecting the health and safety of people, and the environment, from harmful effects of radiation -www.arpansa.gov.au

Australian Safeguards and Non Proliferation Office regulates nuclear safeguards within Australia to ensure that Australia meets non-proliferation treaty commitments and implements the Chemical Weapons Convention and Comprehensive Test Ban Treaty - www.asno.dfat.gov.au

Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is the national authority for assessing threats to national security - www.asio.gov.au

The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade's (DFAT). DFAT works with our allies and partners to confront terrorism and to enhance counter-terrorism cooperation to provide greater security for Australians at home and abroad. DFAT provides advice for people travelling overseas about specific security threats abroad and the role of Australia's embassies and consulates - www.dfat.gov.au

Department of Health and Ageing maintains stockpiles of antidotes and vaccines and plans for dealing with disease outbreaks - www.health.gov.au

Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs maintains the Movement Alert List and enforces Australia's visa regime www.immi.gov.au

Fraud - Definition of Fraud

For the purpose of the Commonwealth Fraud Control Guidelines, fraud against the Commonwealth is defined as:
- Dishonestly obtaining a benefit by deception or other means.
This definition includes:
- theft;
- obtaining property, a financial advantage or any other benefit by deception;
- causing a loss, or avoiding or creating a liability by deception;
- providing false or misleading information to the Commonwealth, or failing to provide information where there is an obligation to do so;
- making, using or possessing forged or falsified documents;
- bribery, corruption or a buse of office;
- unlawful use of Commonwealth computers, vehicles, telephones and other property or services;
- relevant bankruptcy offences; and
- any offences of a like nature to those listed above.
The benefits referred to can be either tangible or intangible. Examples include:
- hacking into, or interfering with a Commonwealth computer system;
- using a false identity to obtain income support payments;
- using Commonwealth systems to gain access to other systems without authority;
- charging the Commonwealth for goods or services that are incomplete or not delivered;
- hiding or disposing of assets by bankrupts to avoid paying creditors; and
- making false statements under the Commonwealth Electoral Act 1918.