When we think of where our tax dollars go, we aren't likely to imagine they’re being sent to companies that have been linked to suspected arms and drug smuggling, corruption or bribery. But this is what a new inquiry has found. Specifically, that multi-million dollar government contracts, for the offshore processing of asylum seekers, have been granted to companies that have been suspected of links to serious crimes. How could this happen? In the very government department - Home Affairs - that was created only seven years ago to unify our intelligence agencies, so they could function better?  Today, investigative reporter Nick McKenzie on the systemic failures that led to this situation. And what it will take - after two similar inquiries in the last year alone - to make sure it never happens again.Subscribe to The Age & SMH: https://subscribe.smh.com.au/See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.