Chris Ellison (WA, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice and Customs) Share this | Hansard source

In the last financial year, with the exception of Tasmanian police at Hobart airport, there was no other state that contributed staff. It was always on the basis that we would work with the states and territories in policing the airports. We had a large number of police to take up those roles, and that has been worked through with the states and territories.

In relation to staffing figures, the Senate might be interested to know that on 30 June 1996 the staffing numbers, including ACT police, were 2,807. Today they are 4,073. This does not even include the APS, which takes the number up to 5½ thousand personnel involved in AFP policing in this country and overseas. The opposition needs to get a hold of itself and look at the history. We have stood by the Australian Federal Police. We have more than tripled funding and we have increased greatly the staff numbers in relation to the Australian Federal Police, both sworn and unsworn. It is in stark contrast to the absolute neglect of the Australian Federal Police under the Hawke and Keating governments.