The Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking (1981–1983), also known as the Stewart Royal Commission, was a
Royal Commission set up in 1981 by the Commonwealth, Queensland, New South Wales and Victorian governments to inquire into various drug trafficking and related criminal activities of
Terrance John Clark
Terrance John Clark (12 November 1944 – 12 August 1983), also known by the aliases Terry Sinclair, Alexander James Sinclair, Tony Bennetti, the Australian Jackal and Mr Big, was the head of the Mr Asia drug syndicate, which imported heroin i ...
and his associates. However, the Commission would spend much of its time examining how criminals were using and abusing the passport system for criminal purposes
including the fact that Clark had 5passports under different names with him when he was arrested in 1978.
The Commission was headed by
New South Wales Supreme Court
The Supreme Court of New South Wales is the highest state court of the Australian State of New South Wales. It has unlimited jurisdiction within the state in civil matters, and hears the most serious criminal matters. Whilst the Supreme Cour ...
Judge
Donald Stewart.
The Commission published its final report in 1983,
[Stewart Royal Commission 1983, ''Report of the Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking in Australia'', AGPS, Canberra.] making recommendations on how to prevent abuses in the issue of passports, most of which were acted upon by the government.
[ The report made 40 recommendations, including that applicants for a passport attend a Passport Office and that mailed applications cease; that passports be issued only to citizens, so that British subjects cease to be entitled to a passport; that birth certificates not to be accepted as a sufficient proof of identity; that passports cease to be issued via travel or other agents; that all persons who change their names, whether by choice, marriage or adoption, be required to register the change with the State Registrar of births, deaths and marriages and photocopied documents were not acceptable.][ Amongst the recommendations which were not accepted by the Fraser Government was for a national ]fingerprint
A fingerprint is an impression left by the friction ridges of a human finger. The recovery of partial fingerprints from a crime scene is an important method of forensic science. Moisture and grease on a finger result in fingerprints on surfac ...
based identity system.
See also
* Royal Commission into Drug Trafficking
Royal may refer to:
People
* Royal (name), a list of people with either the surname or given name
* A member of a royal family
Places United States
* Royal, Arkansas, an unincorporated community
* Royal, Illinois, a village
* Royal, Iowa, a ci ...
, ("Woodward Royal Commission"), (1977-1979)
External links
*
References
1983 disestablishments in Australia
Drug Trafficking, Royal Commission into
Drug policy of Australia
Organised crime in Australia
Illegal drug trade in Australia
1981 establishments in Australia
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