Source: 2002
Released by the Bureau for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs
Australia is a committed partner in international efforts to combat illicit drugs. Australia accords high priority to drug issues, both internationally and domestically. Australia pursues an approach to drug issues that manages the diverse health, social and economic consequences of drug use through comprehensive and consistent policies of demand reduction, supply reduction and harm reduction. Australia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, as well as, the 1961 Single Convention and its 1972 Protocol, and the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances.
Australia is a consumer country with respect to illicit drugs. There is no evidence of narcotics destined for the United States transiting Australia. U.S. and Australian law enforcement agencies have excellent cooperation on narcotics matters. Cannabis (marijuana) and ecstasy (MDMA) are the most abused drugs in Australia, although usage is rising for cocaine, methamphetamine and other Amphetamine Type Substance (ATS). Heroin, however, remains at the forefront of concern for the law enforcement, social service, and health care communities in Australia.
Policy Initiatives. Australia's National Drug Strategic Framework for 2002-04, which was endorsed by the Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy, presents a "shared vision", a framework for co-operation, and a basis for coordinated action to address drug issues. As part of its "Tough on Drugs" strategy, the Federal government has committed funding totaling $354 million.
On December 31, 2002, the Prime Minister pledged additional resources to his 2001 initiative to fight drug use in Australia through comprehensive law enforcement efforts, boosting spending to U.S. $122 million over four years. On April 5, 2002, the Federal Government brought together state and federal officials at a Leaders' Summit on Transnational Crime and Terrorism. The Summit resulted in a reorganization of the Australian National Crime Authority (NCA, now the Australian Crime Commission) and increased the cooperation between state and federal investigators in responding to serious crimes such as drug trafficking and ensuring prosecution at the appropriate state or federal level.
Accomplishments. The Australian Government continues to pursue strong programs to combat drug trafficking and use, which target the drug trade at all levels of production, distribution, and end use. The Australian Government works closely with the United States on a range of drug issues, including through mutual legal assistance and extradition.
Law Enforcement Efforts. Law enforcement agencies continued aggressive counternarcotics law enforcement activities in 2002. Responsibility for these efforts is divided between the federal government--primarily the Australian Federal Police (AFP), the Australian Customs Service (ACS) and the National Crime Authority (NCA)--and the respective state police services. The AFP maintains overseas liaison posts to assist in narcotics-related investigations. Liaison officers, particularly those in the Pacific Island nations, also assist local law enforcement agencies in training and institution building. The AFP, both in Australia and overseas, has a close working relationship with U.S. agencies, such as the DEA and the FBI. In October 2001, the Prime Minister announced plans to deploy additional overseas liaison positions. The AFP has nearly doubled its overseas presence, allowing it to be more proactive in transnational drug trafficking. Seizures of cocaine by Australian Federal Police increased in the fiscal year ending June 30, 2002 to 1032.2 KG. State authorities seized 52 KG of cocaine in 2000-'01; state seizure figures for '01-'02 are not yet available Federal Police heroin seizures also increased this FY to 433.4 KG from 233.6KG in the preceding FY. State authorities seized 248.1 KG of heroin during FY00-FY01.
Corruption. The Australian Government is vigilant in its efforts to prevent narcotics related corruption. There is no indication of any senior official of the government facilitating the production or distribution of illicit drugs or aiding in the laundering of proceeds from such activities. Although some individual police force officers have been investigated concerning drug-related corruption, corruption is not common.
Agreements and Treaties. The United States and Australia cooperate in law enforcement matters under a bilateral mutual legal assistance treaty and an extradition treaty. Australia is a party to the 1988 UN Drug Convention, the 1971 UN Convention on Psychotropic Substances, and the 1961 UN Single Convention on Narcotic Drugs, as amended by the 1972 Protocol. The USG has a Customs Mutual Assistance Agreement (CMAA) with Australia. Australia signed the UN Convention Against Transnational Organized Crime in December 2000, but has not yet ratified it.
Cultivation/Production. The only significant illicit drug cultivation in Australia involves cannabis. There is no evidence that Australian illicit cannabis production reaches the United States in quantities sufficient to have a significant effect. Australia has a significant licit opium crop, primarily on the island of Tasmania. Controls against diversion of that crop are excellent. The majority of amphetamines and methamphetamines consumed in Australia are produced domestically in small, often mobile, laboratories.
Drug Flow/Transit. Australia has been and continues to be a target for Southeast Asian heroin trafficking organizations and South American cocaine traffickers. Laos, Burma, and Thailand continued to be the principal source of heroin trafficked into Australia. Law enforcement authorities estimate that around 80 percent of imported heroin comes from Burma. Until recently, Latin American countries had not been identified as sources of heroin imported into Australia. Some seizures between 1997 and 2002 have originated from that area, however. There has been an increase in detected amounts of amphetamine-type substances (ATS, a category that includes ecstasy and methamphetamines), imported from Asia. Ecstasy is mainly imported from Europe. The U.S. Embassy continues to examine whether these drugs are transiting Australia to the United States, but to date there has been no information that this is occurring.
Domestic Programs. The Federal Government continues to pursue the "Tough on Drugs" Strategy to reduce the supply of, and demand for, illicit drugs in Australia through comprehensive efforts in law enforcement, prevention, treatment, and education. This strategy provides U.S. $230 million toward demand reduction programs including education, prevention, treatment, monitoring, evaluation and research programs. Some of the key elements include: the diversion of illicit drug users from the criminal justice system into assessment, education, and treatment programs; a national drug information service to disseminate drug and alcohol information to all sectors of the community; enhanced drug education in schools; expanding and upgrading treatment services; and a comprehensive community wide education and information campaign.
Under the Australian federal system, the Federal Government has responsibility for national health and crime issues, while the States and Territories have responsibility for the delivery of health and welfare services. The Ministerial Council on Drug Strategy brings together the Federal, State and Territory Ministers responsible for health and law enforcement to determine national policies and programs to reduce the harm caused by drugs in Australia.
Although the Federal Government opposes supervised injecting rooms, the legal authority to provide injecting rooms rests with the health and law enforcement agencies in the States and Territories. In May 2001, the State of New South Wales passed legislation to enable the licensing and operation of an injecting center for a trial period of 18 months. The center, which is now in operation, provides for medically supervised heroin injections. The original trial period has been extended for an additional 12 months, and the center is licensed to operate until October 2003. The Australian Capital Territory has passed similar legislation but has not opened a similar center.
U.S. Policy Initiatives. U.S. counternarcotics activities in Australia feature strong ongoing U.S.-Australian collaboration in investigating, disrupting, and dismantling international illicit drug trafficking organizations. In mid-2002, the United States and Australia signed a Memorandum of Understanding to codify these objectives.
Bilateral Cooperation. Cooperation between U.S. and Australian authorities is excellent.
The Road Ahead. Australia shows no sign of lessening its commitment to the international fight against drug trafficking, particularly in Southeast Asia. The United States can expect excellent ongoing bilateral relations with Australia on the counternarcotics front, and the two countries should continue to work well together in UNODC and other multilateral forums.