The costs of serious and organised crime in Australia, 2023–24

Chart indicates cost of serious and organised crime in 2023-24
Abstract

Serious and organised crime was estimated to cost Australia between $35.5b and $82.3b in 2023–24. This estimate captures the direct and consequential costs of serious and organised crime in Australia (up to $58.9b), as well as the indirect costs of preventing and responding to serious and organised crime incurred by government entities, businesses and individuals (up to $23.4b). Of the total direct costs attributable to serious and organised crime ($47.9b), illicit drugs were the most costly crime type, accounting for 39.5 percent of these direct costs ($19.0b), followed by organised financial crime ($13.2b) and other illicit commodities ($8.6b), which accounted for 27.6 percent and 18.0 percent of direct costs, respectively. The most costly illicit commodity after drugs was illicit tobacco, which cost Australia $4.0b in 2023–24, a significant increase on previous years.

This report is the fifth iteration in a series of attempts to calculate the costs of serious and organised crime to Australia. The upper estimate for 2023–24 ($82.3b), representing 3.2 percent of Australia’s gross domestic product, is up from $68.7b in 2022–23. This increase in the estimated costs of serious and organised crime is due, in large part, to methodological improvements. Nevertheless, these figures represent the substantial and pervasive economic impact of serious and organised crime on Australia.

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Contents

  • Acknowledgements
  • Acronyms and abbreviations
  • Abstract
  • Executive summary
    • Direct costs
    • Consequential costs
    • Indirect costs
    • Total costs of serious and organised crime
    • Conclusion
  • Introduction
    • Method
    • Limitations
  • Direct serious and organised crime costs
    • Illicit drug activity
    • Serious and organised financial crime
    • Crimes against the person
    • Illicit commodities
    • Pure cybercrime
    • Serious and organised crime enabling costs
  • Consequential organised crime costs
    • Updated methodology for consequential crimes
    • Proceeds of consequential crimes
  • Indirect costs of preventing and responding to serious and organised crime
    • Public sector costs
    • Private sector and other costs
    • Summary of indirect prevention and response costs
  • Summary
    • Conclusion
  • References
  • Appendix