Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking
Encyclopedia
The Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking (1977–1979) or Woodward Royal Commission was a royal commission
initiated by the New South Wales Government to investigate drug trafficking in New South Wales
, Australia
, especially links between the Mafia
and New South Wales Police
and the disappearance of anti-marijuana campaigner Donald Mackay.
The Commission was a penetrating investigation of organised crime, revealing for the first time the power and influence of the Calabrian mafia in Australia. According to a book published in 2009 co-authored by former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, Clive Small:
lead to lobbying for a Royal Commission into the drug trafficking business. The pressure culminated after 15 July 1977 when the disappearance of Donald Bruce Mackay, an activist against the drug trade, was believed to have been engineered by drug trafficking interests.
The Commission was proclaimed in NSW Government Gazette on 5 August 1977 (p. 3339) when the Honourable Philip Morgan Woodward was appointed sole Commissioner to:3. whether, in the light of the findings of the Commission on the above matters, changes are desirable in:
(b) those laws referred to in subparagraph (a)
Hearings commenced on 10 August 1977 and the Commissioner conducted public hearings on 175 days and in camera hearings on 146 days. Evidence was given by 565 witnesses and 1000 summonses were issued for the production of documents or the attendance of witnesses. The Commissioner gathered information in North America and other overseas countries in 1978.
The Royal Commissioner studied, examined and reported upon the following drugs - cannabis; narcotics; heroin; amphetamines, cocaine and hallucinogens. For each drug he reported upon the nature, history, use, reported seizures, and the nature of the trade. In addition the Commissioner studied seizures which had occurred in various places in the State including The Riverina, Colleambally, Euston, Wollongong, Sutherland and St George and Byron Bay, and the operation of known importers and distributors. The Commissioner reported on the treatment of drug offenders and the current statutory provision for dealing with drug offenses.
The report of the Commission concluded with a total of 89 recommendations in the general areas of statutory, legal administration and law enforcement reform, identification of drug users, promotion of programs to discourage drug use, information sharing amongst various agencies concerned with drug trade (health, drug regulation, communications and law enforcement); co-operation with other Australian jurisdictions, other countries and international agencies in obtaining information about and dealing with the drug problem; and improved treatment of drug addicts.
The Royal Commission concluded on 31 October when the report was handed to the Governor in the Premier's Office.
Royal Commission
In Commonwealth realms and other monarchies a Royal Commission is a major ad-hoc formal public inquiry into a defined issue. They have been held in various countries such as the United Kingdom, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and Saudi Arabia...
initiated by the New South Wales Government to investigate drug trafficking in New South Wales
New South Wales
New South Wales is a state of :Australia, located in the east of the country. It is bordered by Queensland, Victoria and South Australia to the north, south and west respectively. To the east, the state is bordered by the Tasman Sea, which forms part of the Pacific Ocean. New South Wales...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
, especially links between the Mafia
Mafia
The Mafia is a criminal syndicate that emerged in the mid-nineteenth century in Sicily, Italy. It is a loose association of criminal groups that share a common organizational structure and code of conduct, and whose common enterprise is protection racketeering...
and New South Wales Police
New South Wales Police
The New South Wales Police Force is the primary law enforcement agency in the State of New South Wales, Australia. It is an agency of the Government of New South Wales within the New South Wales Ministry for Police...
and the disappearance of anti-marijuana campaigner Donald Mackay.
The Commission was a penetrating investigation of organised crime, revealing for the first time the power and influence of the Calabrian mafia in Australia. According to a book published in 2009 co-authored by former NSW Police Assistant Commissioner, Clive Small:
- "Woodward’s report was the first to publicly identify members of the Calabrian mafia in Australia and the first to expose the scale of its drug-dealing. Woodward gave every justification for the government to crack down on the Calabrians but it didn’t happen. And it still hasn’t happened. Only the drugs have changed."
Background and Terms of Reference
Discoveries or marihuana plantations in several places in New South Wales, allegations that a criminal organisation existed based in the production and distribution of drugs and the sudden unexplained accumulation of wealth, especially in the town of GriffithGriffith, New South Wales
Griffith is a city in south-western New South Wales, Australia. It is also the seat of the City of Griffith local government area. Like the Australian capital, Canberra and the nearby town of Leeton, Griffith was designed by Walter Burley Griffin. Griffith was named after Sir Arthur Griffith the...
lead to lobbying for a Royal Commission into the drug trafficking business. The pressure culminated after 15 July 1977 when the disappearance of Donald Bruce Mackay, an activist against the drug trade, was believed to have been engineered by drug trafficking interests.
The Commission was proclaimed in NSW Government Gazette on 5 August 1977 (p. 3339) when the Honourable Philip Morgan Woodward was appointed sole Commissioner to:
- "enquire into and report upon
- (a) drugs that are, for the time being drugs of addiction or prohibited drugs within the meaning of the Poisons Act, 1966; and
- (b) other drugs (other than tobacco or alcohol) that are drugs of dependence or of dependence potential
- 2. the identity of persons involved in:
Commission term, proceedings, recommendations and report
The Royal Commission was originally appointed for a period of six months. The term was subsequently extended twice and the final report of the Commission was submitted to the Governor on 31 October 1979. The Commissioner's terms of reference were restricted to the legal aspects of drug trafficking rather than medical or social aspects.Hearings commenced on 10 August 1977 and the Commissioner conducted public hearings on 175 days and in camera hearings on 146 days. Evidence was given by 565 witnesses and 1000 summonses were issued for the production of documents or the attendance of witnesses. The Commissioner gathered information in North America and other overseas countries in 1978.
The Royal Commissioner studied, examined and reported upon the following drugs - cannabis; narcotics; heroin; amphetamines, cocaine and hallucinogens. For each drug he reported upon the nature, history, use, reported seizures, and the nature of the trade. In addition the Commissioner studied seizures which had occurred in various places in the State including The Riverina, Colleambally, Euston, Wollongong, Sutherland and St George and Byron Bay, and the operation of known importers and distributors. The Commissioner reported on the treatment of drug offenders and the current statutory provision for dealing with drug offenses.
The report of the Commission concluded with a total of 89 recommendations in the general areas of statutory, legal administration and law enforcement reform, identification of drug users, promotion of programs to discourage drug use, information sharing amongst various agencies concerned with drug trade (health, drug regulation, communications and law enforcement); co-operation with other Australian jurisdictions, other countries and international agencies in obtaining information about and dealing with the drug problem; and improved treatment of drug addicts.
The Royal Commission concluded on 31 October when the report was handed to the Governor in the Premier's Office.
See also
- Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug TraffickingRoyal Commission of Inquiry into Drug TraffickingThe Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking was also known as the "Stewart Royal Commission". It was headed by Justice Donald Stewart.-See also:* Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking, ,...
, ("Stewart Royal Commission"), (1981–1983) - Robert TrimboleRobert TrimboleRobert Trimbole was an Australian businessman, drug baron and organised crime boss whose alleged involvement in the disappearance of anti-marijuana campaigner Donald Mackay and involvement in drug trafficking in the Griffith, New South Wales area, led to a royal commission, a Coroner's inquest and...