REFORMS TO ENHANCE POLICE CAPABILITY
18 December 2009
Minister for Home Affairs, Brendan O’Connor, today announced significant administrative reforms to the Australian Federal Police (AFP) as part of the government’s response to the Federal Audit of Police Capabilities.
Conducted by Mr Roger Beale AO, the audit examined the AFP’s capacity to meet contemporary and future demands, and government priorities.
“In line with our election promise, the Australian Government is improving policing capability to respond to current and future law enforcement challenges,” Mr O’Connor said.
The major areas of reform include:
- a new funding structure providing flexibility to meet existing and emerging priorities including: counter-terrorism; serious and organised crime, including e-security crime; border protection; overseas deployments and peace keeping; criminal law enforcement in business regulation; and support to the enforcement of the anticipated Carbon Pollution Reduction Scheme.
- the appointment of a third Deputy Commissioner, and
- improved arrangements for policing at Australia’s eleven major airports.
“Technology, globalisation, terrorism and a changing security environment have increased the complexity of policing and we need to ensure the AFP can provide an even faster, targeted and effective response,” Mr O’Connor said.
Replacing numerous allocations of temporary tied funds with a consolidated budget will provide greater certainty, enable the AFP to adjust rapidly to changes in strategic policing objectives, and create operational efficiencies.
Under the proposals released today, the Australian Government will also move to enhance AFP policing at Australia’s 11 major airports in consultation with states and territories, airport and aviation bodies and unions.
The changes proposed include a staged move to a fully sworn AFP capability at these airports instead of the current mixed commonwealth/state policing model.
This new model of airport security will be implemented over a 5 year period in close cooperation with state and territory governments and their agencies, with adequate time to up-skill current staff who are not yet sworn police officers.
This new framework will provide a nationally-integrated airport policing service and a continued counter-terrorism first-response capability at those airports.
According to Minister O’Connor, while many of the recommendations of the Beale Audit relate to internal operations of the AFP, some recommendations, such as those regarding policing at major airports, will be of particular interest to the states and territories. “The Australian Government is committed to working with the states and territories, airports and aviation bodies, and unions to ensure there is support for the implementation of the Beale recommendations,” he said.
The government has also appointed a third Deputy Commissioner to support the increased responsibilities of the senior AFP structure.
The Australian Government has also agreed to implement all remaining recommendations made by the Audit, except for the recommendation relating to changes to the administrative arrangements for protection of official and diplomatic premises.
“The measures the government is implementing will ensure the AFP, as the core commonwealth law enforcement agency, is well equipped to combat serious crime, terrorism and other security threats,” the Minister added.
The AFP was established 30 years ago with an annual budget of $63 million; it now has a budget of more than $1.15 billion.
The report will be available at www.ag.gov.au
Proposed changes to the policing arrangements relate to the following major airports: Adelaide, Alice Springs, Brisbane, Cairns, Canberra, Gold Coast, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
Contact: Senior Policy and Media Adviser, Brian Humphreys 0438 595 567
