Justice
Minister to launch crime prevention centre
28 June 2001
The Federal Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison, will
officially launch the Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention at the University
of Wollongong tomorrow (Friday 29 June).
The Centre has been established to focus on the policing, prevention and investigation
of organised criminal activities which have an impact on regional security
including:
- narcotics production and trafficking
- firearms and people trafficking
- smuggling
- fraud, corruption, money laundering
- internet crime
- paedophile activity
- natural resources poaching
- illegal shipment of hazardous waste.
As traditional national borders prove less of a barrier to criminals, enforcement
practices are becoming internationalised and more cooperative, according to
Centre Co-ordinator, Mr Doug MacKinnon.
"This, however, results in a multiplicity of jurisdictional problems.
The increasing sophistication of transnational crime also requires sophisticated
responses, employing new knowledge, skills, technology, mandates and lines
of communication. The Centre for Transnational Crime Prevention will be a
focal point for exchange of information and research on these matters among
Asian and Pacific countries," Mr MacKinnon said.
The
Centre is located within the Faculty of Law at the University of Wollongong,
supported by the University Foundation.
The Faculty has established links into the Asian and Pacific region through
its Centres in Maritime Policy and in Natural Resources Law and Policy. The
Centre provides a unique opportunity to work at the cutting edge of regional
study on transnational crime prevention.
In addition to undertaking research and consultancies, the Centre offers coursework
and research postgraduate programs on a full-fee paying basis. The coursework
programs, a Master of Transnational Crime Prevention and a Graduate Certificate
in Transnational Crime Prevention, are interdisciplinary and taught in flexible
delivery mode.
Among the guests attending the launch will be members of the diplomatic and
consular corps; officers of various law enforcement agencies; the Member for
Hughes, Danna Vale; the NSW Director of Public Prosecutions, Mr Nick Cowdery;
the Lord Mayor of Wollongong, the Hon George Harrison; the Acting Vice-Chancellor
of the University of Wollongong, Professor Chris Brink; and the Chairman, University
of Wollongong Foundation, Mr Harold Hanson, AM.
Launch
venue: Lecture Theatre 104 of the McKinnon Building.
Time: 2pm, Friday 29 June.
For further information: Contact the Centre Co-ordinator, Mr Doug MacKinnon,
on (02) 4221 4565.
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