Concurrent session 1c—Policing: A reflection on Project Wickenby and lessons for future task forces

Miss Rebecca Sullivan, Cross Agency Relationship Manager, Serious Non-Compliance, Australian Taxation Office

This presentation is an opportunity to share the lessons and success of Project Wickenby and how Project Wickenby can be used as a model for cross-agency taskforces of the future. Project Wickenby was established in 2006 to protect the integrity of Australia's financial and regulatory systems by preventing people from promoting or participating in the abusive use of secrecy jurisdictions.

Seven years on and Project Wickenby is a world renowned model for multiagency task forces. By combining the legal and administrative powers of eight federal departments and agencies (Australian Taxation Office, Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, Australian Crime Commission, Australian Federal Police, Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions, Australian Securities and Investment Commission, Australian Government Solicitor and Attorney General’s Department), the taskforce has proven to be more effective than one single agency acting on its own to tackle the abusive use of secrecy jurisdictions.

Another key factor in the success of Project Wickenby has been the engagement with governments and organisations around the world to fight tax evasion and avoidance on a global scale. International activities include participating in information sharing and intelligence gathering with foreign tax administrations subject to Australia's bilateral tax treaties and Tax Information Exchange Agreements.

Project Wickenby has achieved significant results to date with 35 people convicted of serious offences and over $691 million collected in outstanding revenue as at 28 February 2013. However, the focus of Project Wickenby has not just been in respect of raising revenue. The core objectives behind Project Wickenby have included understanding, influencing and locking in behaviour. This multifaceted approach ensures Project Wickenby leaves behind a lasting legacy as well as being a model for future taskforces.