Ministerial Direction
Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Bob Debus MP
This Ministerial Direction is issued under subsection 37(2) of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) Act 1979 and outlines the Government's expectations and priorities for the AFP. Under section 37(1) of the Act, the Commissioner has the general administration, and the control of the operations, of the AFP. It supersedes the Direction issued on 12 October 2007.
Statement of Expectations
The AFP is the Australian Government’s primary law enforcement agency. It is Australia’s international law enforcement and policing representative and the chief source of advice to the Government on policing issues. AFP functions are set out in section 8 of the AFP Act 1979. Within that framework, the AFP pursues clearly defined outcomes agreed by the Government.
In pursuing these outcomes, the AFP will adhere to Government policies including protection of privacy, occupational health and safety and workplace diversity. The AFP will continue to maintain and enhance a professional culture, based on its stated core values, that ensures high levels of community confidence in the honesty, effectiveness and accountability of its members.
An important part of maintaining community confidence involves the AFP workforce respecting and reflecting the diversity of the Australian community.
The AFP is expected to build a relationship of trust with the indigenous community. The Government expects the AFP to actively promote indigenous employment, enhance cultural sensitivity within its workforce, and improve engagement with Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. Methods to achieve these objectives should include maintaining its Reconciliation Action Plan and Indigenous Employment Strategy.
The Government expects the AFP to take a major role in whole-of-government approaches to crime and security issues. The Government expects the AFP to work collaboratively with other law enforcement agencies, intelligence organisations, and other government agencies that require or facilitate law enforcement activity.
The AFP will actively pursue opportunities for cooperation, strategic alliances, and information sharing with Commonwealth, State and Territory agencies, departments with relevant policy and operational responsibilities, and with the private sector where appropriate.
The AFP will continue to develop relationships with overseas law enforcement organisations to support international operational and general law and order outcomes that benefit Australia’s domestic and international interests.
Continued provision of policing services to the ACT, through agreement with the ACT Government, is an important component of the AFP’s overall capacity to perform its role effectively.
The Government expects the AFP to manage its resources efficiently and responsively in accordance with the Financial Management and Accountability Act 1997 and the Finance Minister’s Orders.
Statement of Priorities
In performing its functions and prioritising its activities, the Government expects the AFP to give special emphasis to:
- countering the threat of terrorism to the safety and security of Australians and Australian interests, inside and outside Australia;
- preventing, deterring, disrupting and investigating serious and organised criminal activities impacting on the interests of the Australian community;
- safeguarding the economic interests of the nation from criminal activities such as serious fraud, money laundering, corruption, intellectual property crime and technology enabled crime;
- ensuring that specific individuals, establishments and events, identified by the Australian Government as being at risk, are protected;
- contributing effectively to the Government's international law enforcement interests including matters involving cooperation to combat transnational organised crime, responses to emergencies, law and order capacity building missions, and participation in United Nations, or other internationally mandated, peace operations;
- achieving and maintaining a technological edge over criminals, including sharing knowledge and capabilities with strategic partners;
- identifying emerging criminal threats to the national interest and advising on appropriate policy approaches, strategies, and treatments, to counter such threats;
- contributing actively to broader government programs or initiatives where their successful implementation requires the engagement of law enforcement capabilities.
The Government is committed to the goal of the AFP being a law enforcement agency second to none. It is also committed to ensuring the AFP is adequately positioned and appropriately resourced to deal with a complex and shifting law enforcement environment.
Reporting
The Government expects the AFP to report regularly to the Minister for Home Affairs on its performance.
The Hon Bob Debus MP
Minister for Home Affairs
25 August 2008