TRANSCRIPT
THE HON PETER COSTELLO MP
Treasurer

Doorstop Interview

Electorate Office

Sunday, 30 May 2004

2.30 pm

SUBJECTS: Drug dealers and crime in Victoria

TREASURER:

We should be concerned about the spate of killing that is going on in our community and which drug barons are essentially fighting for the distribution rights to distribute drugs is so great that they are now prepared to kill for it, and it is not a joke, it is not a movie script, this is something that has the capacity to undermine the very fabric of our society, or even worse, if it is suspected that some police officers have been corrupted in this process. What we need, we need the honest police, an overwhelming majority of the police are honest, to go about their job of catching these people who deal drugs and death to our children. Catching those people who are responsible for murder and if the Commonwealth Government is able to assist in any way by helping to arrest the source of funds or by helping to use the tax law in enforcement, then we stand ready to do so. Absolutely ready to do so.

JOURNALIST:

Have you been asked to do it?

TREASURER:

No, we haven’t been. There have been requests for the Australia Crime Commission to be involved and the Australian Crime Commission can draw on the resources of the Tax Office. And what I am making clear is, if the Police Authority in Victoria wants the assistance of the Commonwealth, the Federal Authorities, then we stand ready to give it.

JOURNALIST:

Why do you think they haven’t asked for your assistance?

TREASURER:

Well, because the responsibility to catch drug dealers is with the Drug Squad. The responsibility to catch murderers is with the Homicide Squad. It is only in extreme circumstances where you would be worried about whether or not they could do that and should be calling for assistance, but if that assistance can be given we stand ready to do it. My point is this, that this is something going on in our midst which should worry every Victorian. Drug dealers are fighting for the distribution rights to deal drugs to our children. They are killing to protect those rights. There is something like twenty-four or twenty-five unsolved murders in this State since 1998. A cloud hangs over some police in some of those squads, particularly with some of the charges that have been brought recently. And what are we as a community going to do about it? There is no point in being complacent. This is murder and drug dealing, and if the resources of the Commonwealth can be used, then we stand ready to assist.

JOURNALIST:

What can the Tax Office do that it hasn’t, (inaudible) done already?

TREASURER:

Well the point is, this is something the Drug Squad should be doing, and something that the Homicide Squad should be doing. Now, if you have people who apparently are well known to the police living luxurious lifestyles, with no explanation as to how they live those lifestyles, then I think it is very important that we actually (inaudible) of financial funds as to how they get that.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) the names are obvious, can’t they just launch their own investigation?

TREASURER:

No, no. Let me make it clear. Responsibility for arresting drug dealers lies with the Drug Squad. And the responsibility for arresting and charging murderers lies with the Homicide Squad. The Tax Office is not the Victoria Police. But if the Victoria Police needs assistance or has been unable to bring those people to justice, we stand ready to do so.

JOURNALIST:

Are you looking to give the Tax Office more (inaudible) ?

TREASURER:

I think its time to have a full investigation.

JOURNALIST:

(Inaudible)

TREASURER:

No I don’t. How many murders… How many … Well, how many murders are we going to have in Victoria. We now have police which are under a cloud, and what’s happening about it? The idea that an Ombudsman is going to fix all of this up I think is fanciful. We need a lot more than that. And I think that it is about time that Victorians started to get a bit outraged about what’s happening with the murder and drug dealing. Let’s be clear about this. This is a fight between people over the distribution rights for drugs. Drugs that they can sell to children to destroy their lives.

JOURNALIST:

What exactly can you (inaudible)

TREASURER:

I think we need a lot more in Victoria than an Ombudsman. … (inaudible) corruption. And it can really come to grips with the problems of murder and justice. That’s what the problems are. I am not going (inaudible). If you are worried about the legal profession, you ask them about the legal profession.

JOURNALIST:

What exactly will the Tax Office do then? Can you specify exactly what they could do that will assist in this fight?

TREASURER:

They will stand ready to help the authorities in tracking financial flows and tracking how it is that people who apparently have no visible means of support end up so wealthy in Victoria.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) … their powers, going into bank accounts. Can you specify …

TREASURER:

Well that’s precisely what they can do, if they are asked to do it, that is precisely what they can do, and they will do it.

JOURNALIST:

Are you looking at beefing up their powers though?

TREASURER:

Well, can I make this point. The Tax Office is not the Victorian Drug Squad. The Tax Office is not responsible for catching drug dealers in Victoria. That’s the Drug Squad. The Tax Office is not responsible for catching murderers in Victoria. That’s the Homicide Squad. Now, if you think that twenty-four murders which are still unsolved is a problem in Victoria, and I do, if you think that drug dealers fighting over distribution rights is a problem in Victoria, and I do, and you are wondering what else can be done to assist, short of a commission which has got to get to the bottom of police corruption, then the Commonwealth stands ready to assist with what it can do, and what it can do is it can help tracking funds.

JOURNALIST:

The Tax Office investigates ordinary people, why not then people suspected of, of serious crimes?

TREASURER:

Absolutely. It will.

JOURNALIST:

But why does that need the imprimatur of the Homicide Squad, or the Drug Squad to do that?

TREASURER:

No, no it doesn’t need the imprimatur if it is requested to provide assistance. If the Drug Squad, if the Homicide Squad requested to provide assistance, it stands ready to do so.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) Christine Nixon to (inaudible)

TREASURER:

It’s not up to me to talk about a serving police officer, that is a matter for the Victorian Government. Look, like all Victorians I am concerned about the spate of murder, and I am concerned about the level of drug dealing in our community, and it is not something we should glorify. It’s not something we should be blas about. It’s not a movie script. And how do these people grow rich? They grow rich by selling drugs to children, and destroying their lives, and I think the most important thing is that we ….

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) … taxing of money is going to stop any actual killings?

TREASURER:

Well, I hope the Homicide Squad stops the killing.

JOURNALIST:

(inaudible) … can you clarify exactly what you are saying about the State Government efforts?

TREASURER:

Well … no hang on …if you say who suggested … somebody suggested that, I haven’t heard such a suggestion.

JOURNALIST:

Ok, well I am asking you straight out. Are you saying that the State Government is not doing enough?

TREASURER:

No, I am saying that twenty-four or twenty-five unsolved murders, wealthy drug barons selling drugs to our kids, apparently living lives of luxury is not something we should be proud of as a community, and as a community we shouldn’t be blas about it. We shouldn’t sit back and say, well, you know, this is all a bit of fun on a Sunday afternoon. Drug dealers are destroying our community, our children. I would like to see those people brought to justice.