Organised crime is costing Australia close to $70 billion each year, with the impact growing.
New figures from the Australian Institute of Criminology (AIC) and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC) estimate the cost of serious and organised crime across the country to have been $68.7 billion in 2022–23, compared to $60.1 billion in 2020–21.
AIC Director and ACIC CEO Heather Cook said the figures highlighted the ever-increasing impact of serious and organised crime on the Australian community.
“The $68.7 billion cost of serious and organised crime represents more than $2500 for every person in Australia,” Ms Cook said.
“Imagine the difference this money could make to the Australian community if it was spent on essential services like education, healthcare or emergency responses instead.”
She said the AIC data revealed the costs of direct and consequential serious and organised criminal activity ($51.8 billion), as well as the costs to government entities, businesses, and individuals associated with preventing and responding to serious and organised crime ($16.9 billion).
Ms Cook said direct serious and organised crime costs included activities such as illicit drug trafficking, serious financial crime, cybercrime, human trafficking and modern slavery.
“While crimes such as burglaries, violence and illicit drug abuse can be committed as a consequence of these serious and organised crime activities.”
Read the full report: Estimating the costs of serious and organised crime in Australia, 2022–23.
