Senator COONAN —My question is to the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Vanstone. Australians are vitally concerned about drugs, crime and access to justice. Will the minister inform the Senate of initiatives and achievements in the Attorney-General's and Justice and Customs portfolios?

Senator VANSTONE (Justice and Customs) —I thank Senator Coonan for the question. It is quite appropriate, as we approach the end of the year, to look on the achievements in each portfolio. The first that I would nominate in this portfolio is the contribution the AFP made in East Timor. They were the first people there. There are 40 that are still there. They gave extremely meritorious service and I would particularly like to mention Alan Mills, a retired AFP Assistant Commissioner who gave distinguished service as the UNAMET commander in East Timor. That I would single out as a great achievement for the Federal Police this year.

The Federal Police and the NCA are of course now properly resourced. They have had increased money, as I was able to mention yesterday, under the Tough on Drugs initiatives. They have had record seizures of heroin, cocaine and amphetamines. We have had the arrests of major international fugitives and, most importantly for the man and the woman in the street, they have been very successful—through the Swordfish reference—in catching up with tax cheats, something that the people opposite when they were in government never did.

The next achievement that I would like to mention is that of CrimTrac, an extremely overdue need to put together law enforcement information from all the state police services, and we are starting with a fingerprint system that was allowed—over 13 years under Labor—to fall into absolute disrepair to the point that it was effectively useless.

We have given Customs the resources and powers to do the job, and all we hear from the other side is, `Why don't you peel a bit off, establish a new authority and call it a coastguard?' In contrast to that, the Prime Minister's task force has put $124 million of new money in, including new Dash 8 aircraft, a night capable helicopter and a national surveillance centre. In relation to law reform, this government has initiated and passed sex slavery legislation. It is very important for Australia to be taking the lead in this area to demonstrate that we will not put up with trafficking, especially in women, for use as sex slaves. We have passed legislation in relation to foreign bribery so that our companies when competing overseas compete on quality and price and not on whether they have got money to bribe the person they are getting the contract from. We have introduced theft, fraud and bribery legislation, which is a part of major criminal law reform. We have had a report done by the Australian Law Reform Commission on the confiscation of proceeds of crime, and we will be acting on that report early next year. Crime prevention under this government is getting the money and the attention it deserves.

There is a whole range of achievements. There is one thing that this parliament could have achieved, not just for itself but for all Australians. But, sadly, because of people opposite, it is not going to happen. Sports drugs is one area in which we could have seen a very exciting achievement by this parliament. Because we have the Sydney Olympics next year, it is important that Australia demonstrates we want a clean Olympics and that we show what we are prepared to do towards that. Customs has legislation at hand to increase the penalties on people who import performance enhancing drugs, to turn them into middle level narcotic penalties. The Democrats are prepared to support us, Senator Harradine is prepared to support us, One Nation are prepared to support us. We could pass this legislation before Christmas and have an effective regime leading up to the Olympics. What does Labor say? `Send it off to a committee.' They have not even thought about it. Kate Lundy is sitting there looking down.

Senator Lundy interjecting—

The PRESIDENT —Order! Senator Lundy.

Senator VANSTONE —The reason Senator Lundy is looking down is she is responsible for sports matters and has not done anything about it. They have not got a policy. That is why they have to send it off to a committee—to think about it. That is why it will be delayed. (Time expired)