Criminal confiscation laws allow government to seize wealth
derived – or suspected to be obtained – from criminal
activities. In place in all Australian jurisdictions, these types
of laws are often said to be draconian in their application, with
none more so than those that apply in Western Australia.
But, that all might be about to change soon, as the WA
government tabled
a report on 4 December that recommends a complete overhaul of
the state's notorious criminal property confiscation laws, with
attorney general John Quigley outlining its recommendations.
Announced
in September 2018, the review of the laws was carried out by
former WA Chief Justice Wayne Martin. And the ex-top judge asserts
that the relevant legislation should be repealed, and new laws be
drafted.
