Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Bill 2024

The Criminal Organisations Control Amendment Bill 2024 was introduced to the Legislative Assembly on 28 August, containing a number of measures seeking to increase the effectiveness of Victoria’s Criminal Organisations Control Act 2012, Victoria’s principal Act for curtailing organised crime in Victoria. 

This Bill Brief provides an overview of the Bill as well as key background and context around its introduction. The paper looks into the history of unlawful association laws and outlaw motorcycle gangs, as well as detailing the Victorian developments leading up to the current Bill. Outlines of the Bill’s second reading speech and key provisions are then followed by a summary of stakeholder responses and a jurisdictional comparison of organised crime responses.

The Bill comes amid renewed scrutiny of the influence of organised crime in society broadly but also in more specific settings such as the construction industry. It proposes a number of reforms to increase the Act’s effectiveness in preventing or disrupting organised crime. Proposed amendments include expanding the state’s unlawful association provisions and banning the public display of insignia for certain criminal organisations, among other measures.

This paper is not an exhaustive summary of the Bill and does not constitute legal advice. It is intended as a useful guide to the topic to assist debate.