The Nationals Senator for New South Wales John Williams has congratulated Armidale Dumaresq Council for supporting his call for a Royal Commission into white collar crime.

Senator Williams said Armidale Dumaresq Council has first-hand knowledge of the damage that can be done to community assets through unscrupulous practices of some in the insolvency industry.

The YCW Leagues Club in Armidale was the victim of the administration of Newcastle liquidator Stuart Ariff who this week was found guilty on 19 criminal charges relating to a separate matter.

Senator Williams said the Council's submission to the 2009 Senate inquiry was damning of the Australian Securities and Investments Commission (ASIC) for a lack of action. Since then, Armidale Dumaresq Council Deputy Mayor Jim Maher has been keen to see reform in the insolvency industry, and successfully moved two motions*

Last Wednesday Senator Williams called for a Royal Commission into white collar crime in Australia, and handed a file of statutory declarations alleging wrongdoing to the Australian Federal Police and the NSW Fraud Squad.

"Unfortunately there is no confidence in the industry regulators like ASIC anymore. Mr. Ariff is a case in point.

I hope the Federal government acts on white collar crime because it is destroying peoples' lives. To do nothing would be a green light for the illegal activities to continue", Senator Williams said.