ABSTRACT
Ten years ago, Australia received 149 incoming requests for assistance under the mutual assistance regime and made 61 outgoing requests for assistance from other countries for the purpose of Australian criminal investigations and prosecutions and related asset recovery proceedings (AGD 1999–2000). In the past financial year, Australia received 380 incoming requests and made 182 outgoing requests (AGD 2009–2010). On the one hand, these statistics support the proposition, which has received extensive focus in diverse media, that the dimensions of transnational organised crime have been expanding significantly over the past 5–10 years. The scope for pursuing transnational organised crime has likewise been extended substantially through rapid developments in information and communications technology. On the other hand, the statistics reflect increasing recognition of the value and significance of cooperation under the mutual assistance regime as a means of facilitating effective investigation and prosecution of transnational criminal activity. This recognition has in turn led to the development of mutual assistance relationships between Australia and other countries with which it did not previously have dealings under the mutual assistance regime, as well as to the strengthening of prior existing relationships.
