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IN PHOTO: Head of Australian Federal Police mission Commander Brian McDonald (L), Alexander Hug (C), deputy head for the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe's (OSCE) monitoring mission in Ukraine and Dutch police officer Kuijs arrive back from the site where the downed Malaysian airliner MH17 crashed, in Donetsk July 31, 2014. The OSCE security and rights organisation said its monitors, accompanied by Dutch and Australian experts, reached the crash site of a Malaysian airliner in eastern Ukraine on Thursday, two weeks after the plane came down. REUTERS/Sergei Karpukhin

Western Australia (WA) Premier Colin Barnett commented on the credibility of WA’s Corruption and Crime Commission (CCC). He stated that it should be able to focus on fighting large organised crime taking place within the state instead of focusing on petty criminal activities.

Although he did not negate the importance of dealing with any kind of criminal activities but said that it should not just cover the public sector. He further issued a statement saying, "I think people want to see tougher action on drugs manufacture and distribution, on national and international links to criminal gangs and bikie gangs."

In an interview with the ABC, Mr. Barnett expressed about his confidence in the new CCC commissioner John McKechnie and declared his intention to have a personal conversation with him on formulating new policies to tackle organised crime systematically. "That is the biggest criminal issue that we face," he said.

The day before yesterday, Michael Murray, the parliamentary inspector tabled a report in the Parliament that exposed the unaccountability and misdemeanor of public officers belonging to the Operations Support Unit. The officers were accused of several allegations ranging from “theft to improper interference with police investigation.” It was declared that investigations which started since July 2013 with a number of restrictions imposed on it would be conducted further.

Mr. Barnett said that he has been hoping of a new start with the new commissioner and was being vocal about how correct the CCC was in suspending eight officers found guilty after the investigation. Attorney General Michael Mischin announced that methodical approaches have been undertaken to improve performance in the future.

Back in 2012, the government had failed to pass the legislation which primarily dealt in strengthening CCC's ability to combat organised crime. In addition, Mr. Mischin said no similar plans of reinforcing such changes would be currently made instead greater responsibilities would be undertaken.

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