It is an honour to be here as Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police, and I pay tribute to the leadership of former Commissioner Reece Kershaw.
I will now share with you how the AFP will operate under my Commissionership and what you can expect from us at Parliamentary hearings, including Senate Budget Estimates.
You have a commitment from me that the AFP will always strive to provide accurate information about how we use our resources and powers to defend and protect Australia and Australia's future from domestic and global security threats.
It has never been more important that the AFP maintains trust with the communities we serve - and this includes offering public reassurance in a world that is becoming more unpredictable.
We will always be as transparent as possible, however, there will be times where we will not provide information on ongoing matters.
I want to be very clear. The AFP will not offer any details at this table or anywhere else that risk our operations or capabilities, but most importantly, we will never endanger the lives of our members.
It is a dangerous time to work for law enforcement. I take my responsibility to protect every member of the AFP very seriously.
When we do take questions on notice, we will aim to ensure our responses are provided within the timeframes set by the committee.
We understand and respect the important work you do, and I consider these hearings another workplace, where Senators and my members are treated with respect.
In terms of how the AFP will operate under my Commissionership, there will be a refocus.
Firstly, I want to clearly define the identity of the AFP. We are a national security agency.
Our new mission statement is: Defend and protect Australia and Australia's future from domestic and global security threats.
Yesterday, the AFP workforce heard from me about my new priorities.
They include:
1. FUTURE PROOFING OUR WORKFORCE
This refers to ensuring we are recruiting and retaining the best members, we have career pathways and mobility, and that our employment, health and wellbeing conditions, facilities, equipment, training and culture support our members to do their job effectively and safely.
I want the AFP to be the best police agency in the world to work for, and that requires having the right leadership, culture, opportunity and integrity.
Professional Standards sits at the very heart of this. It is not only about compliance - it is about protecting the trust the community places in us and ensuring every member has confidence in the culture we build together.
2. SUPERCHARGING GLOBAL OPERATIONS
We will be smarter about what we do with our resources and access offshore, including disrupting threats before they reach our borders. By taking this approach, we also make it more cost effective and safer to do our work.
We will also protect Australians offshore through rapid police-to-police engagement and build resilience in partner countries.
3. DEFENDING AUSTRALIA'S DOMESTIC SECURITY & OUR REGION
This is our work across investigations, protection, aviation, AUKUS, supported by our enabling and capability areas. It is also a recognition that to defend our country, we need to defend the region we live in. We will not be siloed as an agency. Traditional crime types are overlapping, and criminal lines are blurring - we will work smarter to ensure we attack the threat at its core.
4. PROTECTING VULNERABLE COMMUNITIES
Vulnerable communities include our children who should be able to live free from child exploitation and sextortion, and youth who are being radicalised online by terrorist or state actors. Vulnerable communities also include victims of forced marriage or forced labour. Protecting our future prosperity goes to the welfare of our next generation. Also, this is not just about stopping criminals who are targeting Australia from a distance. This is ensuring we prioritise our social cohesion and are nimble in how we respond to those who are willing to damage our social fabric and create hatred, division and violence targeted and marginalised communities; and,
5. INVESTING IN TECHNOLOGY & CAPABILITY
To help defend Australia and keep the community safe, we will prioritise investment in technology and capability, including artificial intelligence and big data management tools.
Science is one of the strongest weapons we have, and our forensic capability gives the AFP an edge against criminality. Where others see nothing, forensics sees possibility. Where criminals think they've left no trail, forensics uncover the truth.
Finally, you will hear new language from the AFP about how we will target illicit importations.
The Commonwealth law enforcement agency primarily responsible for combating the importation of illicit tobacco is Australian Border Force. ABF do exceptional work every day to help stop illicit tobacco from coming to Australia.
However, the illicit commodities we have focused on, like cocaine, methamphetamine or heroin, can no longer solely determine AFP investigations.
For example, an individual we suspect is responsible for a number of tobacco-related arsons in Australia is a person of interest in the investigation into the alleged politically-motivated arson attack on the Adass Israel Synagogue.
This alleged offshore offender has used illicit tobacco and other crimes in Australia to build his illegal wealth and a network of Australian criminals.
He is a national security threat to this country. That means the AFP will target him and his associated criminals and illicit tobacco traffickers.
We will use our international network to target this offender because as a law enforcement agency in Australia, it is a remit only the AFP can effectively undertake.
It does not mean the AFP will get involved in every illicit tobacco crime but where the commodity, an individual or a group is a threat to national security, we will take action.
Where there are high harm or high-value targets, these investigations will be prioritised.
Finally, I want to reiterate the primary driver for the AFP: all our disruptions, investigations and activities are to defend and protect Australia's sovereignty, security and future prosperity.
Thank you.
