The Government has announced that nearly $12 million seized from criminal activity will be redirected to fund a programme dedicated to combating meth and gang-linked harm.
The funding, provided via the Proceeds of Crime Fund, was announced today by Associate Justice Minister Nicole McKee and Associate Police Minister Casey Costello.
“We are taking money off criminals and putting it straight back into stopping gangs from recruiting, reducing meth harm and supporting practical frontline initiatives that work,” McKee stated.
The Mechanism of Recovery
The nearly $12 million was secured through the application of the Criminal Proceeds (Recovery) Act of 2009. This legislation empowers police to seize assets and cash identified as proceeds of crime.
Once recovered, these funds are placed into the Proceeds of Crime Fund, which subsequently supports programmes managed by the Resilience to Organised Crime in Communities (ROCC).
Supporting Community Resilience
The ROCC group operates through a collaborative network involving local leaders, service providers, community organisations, and government agencies. The initiative is designed to provide a critical safety net for communities following police interventions.
“When police crack down on gangs and drug networks, communities are often left dealing with the fallout,” McKee explained. “ROCC helps provide immediate support on the ground so gangs cannot simply move back in and regain influence.”
Previous ROCC initiatives have focused on a variety of support systems for those at risk of gang recruitment, including:
- Counselling and life skill programmes
- Cooking classes
- Employment assistance
- Relationship and parenting support
Funding Certainty and Outcomes
Associate Police Minister Casey Costello noted that the increase in funding is intended to provide stability for providers who deliver programmes with measurable results. According to Costello, this includes efforts aimed at breaking cycles of crime and addiction, helping individuals enter the workforce, reducing reoffending, and keeping young people in school.
The Government clarified that this funding decision was made through the Proceeds of Crime Fund’s out-of-cycle process for time-sensitive initiatives and is not part of Budget 2026.
Potential Implications
By leveraging seized criminal assets to fund community-level support, this approach may create a cycle where criminal proceeds are used to undermine the very networks that generated them. If the “measurable outcomes” cited by Minister Costello are achieved, it could lead to a decrease in gang recruitment and a reduction in the long-term influence of organized crime in affected areas.
