New laws targeting organised crime have passed the NSW Parliament, introducing expanded powers for police and the NSW Crime Commission, tougher penalties for people involved in planning serious offences, and changes affecting children’s access to certain serious crimes.
The Crimes and Other Legislation Amendment (Further Organised Crime Reforms) Bill 2026 was passed by parliament on 24 September 2026. The reforms are intended to strengthen the ability of law enforcement agencies to investigate organised criminal networks, access digital evidence and prevent serious offending.
The changes cover a range of areas, including access to mobile phones, the use of toll road camera footage, serious crime prevention orders and penalties for offences involving shootings, firebombings and planned murders.
For people suspected of involvement in organised crime, the reforms may have significant implications for how investigations are conducted and the potential consequences of criminal charges.
Extended powers strengthening the Crime Commission
One of the key changes concerns the investigative powers of the NSW Crime Commission.
Under the reforms, the Commission can compel suspects to hand over digital devices immediately in specified circumstances, rather than requiring a person to produce a device or document at a later hearing.
Previously, the Commission could require a person to provide a device or document and bring it to a hearing but could not compel access to the device at the point the summons was served.
This change is intended to reduce the risk of relevant digital evidence being concealed or destroyed before a hearing.
The reforms also increase the maximum penalties for failing to comply with Crime Commission orders, including refusing to answer questions, obstructing investigations or providing false or misleading evidence.
The maximum penalty for these forms of non-compliance increases from five years to 10 years’ imprisonment.
The legislation also provides that refusing to comply with certain requirements to produce a device can attract a maximum penalty of four years’ imprisonment, a $4,400 fine, or both, and may result in contempt proceedings.
What are the new organised crime laws?
Police powers to access mobile phones
The reforms amend existing NSW legislation to expand the investigative powers available to the NSW Crime Commission and NSW Police. The legislation also increases the maximum penalties for certain conduct.
Under the reforms, the Police can compel suspects to hand over digital devices immediately in certain circumstances. This can be done lawfully during routine police stops, arrests, or detentions.
This will assist police with organised crime investigations that include drug or illicit tobacco, firebombings and public shootings.
Previously, a person could generally be ordered to unlock a device where it had been seized under a search or crime warrant.
Police access to toll road camera footage
The reforms also expand police access to unredacted images captured by public toll road cameras. Police will be able to access these images when investigating serious indictable offences or missing persons cases.
Initially, the powers will apply to images captured on the Sydney Harbour Bridge and in the Sydney Harbour Tunnel and will later be expanded to other public roads.
The change may assist investigations by providing additional evidence about the movements of vehicles and people.
Interim serious crime prevention orders
The legislation introduces Interim serious crime prevention orders, allowing police to seek immediate restrictions on high-risk suspects while applying to the court for a final order.
The restrictions may concern a person’s:
- Associations with other people,
- Movements and the places they can visit,
- Access to digital devices,
- Internet use, and
- Use of technology platforms.
These orders are intended to allow authorities to intervene before a final court order is determined.
Tougher penalties for planning and facilitating murder
The reforms also increase the maximum penalties for certain conduct involving the planning of murder.
People involved in planning a murder may face a maximum penalty of life imprisonment, even where they do not personally carry out the killing.
The changes reflect the legislation’s focus on people who organise, arrange or facilitate serious criminal activity, rather than only those who directly commit the underlying offence.
The precise charge and applicable penalty will depend on the conduct alleged and the relevant statutory provision.
Changes affecting children accused of serious offences
The reforms expand NSW’s existing Serious Children’s Indictable Offence (SCIO) scheme to include additional offences associated with organised crime, including shootings and firebombings.
The government states that the changes add four offences to the scheme, bringing the total to 55.
Under the scheme, children accused of specified serious offences can be required to be tried or sentenced as adults in the District Court or Supreme Court, where higher maximum penalties may apply.
This is a significant consideration in cases involving young people accused of serious criminal conduct.
Face-matching and identity fraud
The legislation also facilitates NSW’s participation in the Commonwealth face-matching regime.
Under the changes, Transport for NSW will be able to securely share driver licence and photo card images through a centralised Commonwealth database.
The stated purpose is to help prevent stolen identity documents from being used to facilitate organised crime and identity fraud.
These reforms introduce significant changes to investigative powers, serious crime prevention measures and penalties for certain offences in NSW.
If you are under investigation or have been charged with an offence involving organised crime, drugs, firearms, a shooting, a firebombing or another serious criminal allegation, it is important to understand the charge and the evidence being relied upon.
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