Celebrating 100 Years of Federal Policing in Australia

The Australian Federal Police (AFP) today celebrates a centenary of Federal policing with the launch of an exhibit at the National Museum of Australia showcasing the organisation's history.

On this day, 100 years ago, an assault on Prime Minister Billy Hughes in the small rural community of Warwick, Queensland led to the creation of a Commonwealth Police Force tasked with investigating and prosecuting crimes against the Commonwealth and its officials.

From humble beginnings, federal policing in Australia has evolved into today's AFP. Today, the AFP is a force of over 6,500 with more than 200 officers based in 36 cities across the world, targeting crimes including terrorism, child exploitation, cybercrime, money laundering and the importation of illicit drugs.

Just this week the AFP, in collaboration with the Victorian Police and Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), disrupted the 14th major terrorist plot in Australia since September 2014.

All Australians should feel secure with the understanding that the AFP continues to work around the clock, 7 days a week, to keep them safe. In this job, they are supported 100% by their Government.

There has never been a Government more supportive of the AFP and our law enforcement agencies than this Coalition Government.

In the 2017-18 Budget, the Federal Government provided the AFP with an additional $321.4 million in increased funding - largest single funding boost for the AFP's domestic policing capabilities in a decade and reflects the Government's unwavering commitment to keeping Australians safe.

This funding has allowed the AFP to recruit new specialists including 100 intelligence experts, over 100 tactical response and covert surveillance operators, and almost 100 forensic specialists.

This is in addition to the Coalition Government's investment in national security and law enforcement of:

-          $1.5 billion to combat terrorism

-          $128 million to fund the Serious Financial Crime Taskforce

-          $116 million in the National Anti-Gang Squad

-          $25 million to expand the AFP's National Forensics Rapid lab

-          $21 million to extend the Trade Union Royal Commission Taskforce, and

-          $15 million to support the Fraud and Anti-Corruption Centre.

Our law enforcement agencies are the best in the world. As federal policing in Australia enters its second century, I congratulate and thank the AFP for their excellent work and unwavering commitment to keeping Australia safe. Our nation, our communities and our citizens are safer and stronger due to your outstanding efforts.