Government backs UOW’s international crime-fighting centre

May 04, 2006

The Federal Government today (4 May) announced $12 million funding for a global crime prevention research and training centre to be built at the University of Wollongong’s new Innovation Campus.

Federal Minister for Education, Science and Training Julie Bishop announced the funding for the Global Centre of Excellence for Transnational Crime Prevention.

The funding will allow a major expansion of the research and training facilities for the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention (CTCP), which was established by UOW in 2000 with a focus on international organised criminal activities that impact on regional and global security including narcotics and people smuggling, forensic accounting, fraud and money laundering, poaching, internet crime and identity theft.

The CTCP currently trains officers from key Australian agencies such as the Federal Police Force, and international students from 15 countries across the Asia-Pacific region.

Ms Bishop said the funding, to be included in next week’s Federal Budget, would be an important non-military resource in the fight against terrorism. It would also allow Australia to expand crime prevention and security training cooperation with neighbouring countries.

“The work the centre will do in the areas of international smuggling and fraud will help us follow the money trails, and enhance our understanding of the sources of funding for terrorist groups,” the Minister said.

“The Government recognises the momentum the Centre has built up in providing an important service to the Australian community and countries in the region,” she said. “It has become a global resource in the fight against transnational crime, developing an international reputation and becoming a focal point for research and training in a range of transnational crime issues.”

Ms Bishop said the $12 million funding would be used for “bricks and mortar”, building a new centre that would enable the CTCP to expand and build on the services it already provides to Australian and international students and government agencies.

“I can’t think of a better way for Australia to engage in transnational crime prevention than in the education of students … from Australia and from agencies in other countries in our region,” she said.

“This will enhance the information flow and thus the security cooperation with countries in our region.”

Ms Bishop said the centre was a “fine example of what I believe is the future for Australian universities”.

“Australian universities have to differentiate themselves, and those that can play to their strengths and be the best at what they do will flourish,” she said. “The University of Wollongong is showcasing innovation and research that will have an impact on the Asia-Pacific region. When we see research integrated with teaching and scholarship in such a vital area as transnational crime prevention, then we are certainly seeing a university that is playing to its strengths.”

UOW Vice-Chancellor Professor Gerard Sutton welcomed the Federal Government’s support for the Centre’s expansion.

“The Centre was established in 2000 – well before 9/11 (the terrorist attacks on US cities on September 11, 2001) - with a strong focus on the non-military side of international crime prevention,” Professor Sutton said. “The Federal Government told us to go away and make it work. We did, and this (funding) shows the Government has recognised that.”

Professor Sutton paid tribute to the role that NSW Senator Connie Fierravanti-Wells played in supporting the Centre within the Federal Government. He also acknowledged the support the University had received from Prime Minister John Howard, Foreign Minister Alexander Downer and Ms Bishop’s predecessor as Education Minister Dr Brendan Nelson.

The CTCP provides research and training programs and works in collaboration with domestic and international organiations such as the AFP, AusAID, the Association of South East Asian Nations (ASEAN), the Asian Development Bank and the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime.

It has also delivered specialised programs for government security agencies in 14 countries, including establishing a joint Beijing Centre of Transnational Crime Prevention with the Beijing Municipal Government in 2004.

CTCP Director Associate Professor Doug MacKinnon said a key focus of the centre’s expansion would be developing research projects with Australian and international law enforcement agencies.

“This will allow us to attract high quality researchers to work on global issues that affect developed and developing nations alike,” Professor MacKinnon said.

The new 3,500 square metre centre will be among the first buildings to be constructed at UOW’s Innovation Campus, a $300 million research and development precinct at Fairy Meadow, a few kilometres east of the main Wollongong Campus.