Government response to the Independent Review of the National Cooperative Scheme on Unexplained Wealth

The Albanese Government has endorsed recommendations aimed at improving Australia’s ability to disrupt serious and organised crime.

The Intergovernmental Agreement on the National Cooperative Scheme on Unexplained Wealth enables law enforcement agencies across the country to work together to investigate, and confiscate, unexplained wealth.

In its response to the Independent review of the scheme, tabled today in Parliament, the Government has agreed, or agreed in principle, with thirteen of the Review’s fifteen recommendations.

This includes agreeing in principle to the cornerstone recommendation to reframe and expand the original scheme, creating the new “National Scheme on Unexplained Wealth and Criminal Assets Confiscation’.”

The Government will work with states and territories to implement these recommendations, enhancing our ability to act together to disrupt serious and organised crime.

I would like to thank Mr Andrew Cappie-Wood AO for his work over the course of the Review