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

Can I commence to answer the honourable senator’s question—and I thank him for it—by saying that in the past five years the Australian Federal Police have grown by over 300 per cent. This is because there has been, for the benefit and the interest of the senator, a huge extra burden applied to the very important government agency in terms of counterterrorism and in terms of managing a whole host of criminal incursions into this country in the drug trade, sex slavery, child pornography—a whole host of things.

A national headquarters for the AFP has been a priority for a number of years. In 2001 the AFP outlined the need for all headquarters functions, now totalling 16 sites around Canberra, to be located within a single site in the ACT. Anzac Park West was identified in 2004 as a location where both operational and administrative staff could work together in order to achieve business efficiencies. As I say, in the last five years this organisation has grown at a rate of 300 per cent. Anzac Park East, a building located adjacent to Anzac Park West, was considered as a second headquarters for the AFP. Unfortunately, the options put forward so far in relation to Anzac Park East will not meet the objectives of this very rapidly expanding agency. The AFP is investigating alternatives for a new headquarters. This will include what options are available—whether the AFP opts for a purpose-built facility or looks at a larger existing building that can be refurbished. Whilst no decision has been made, the future of Anzac Park West will also need to be re-evaluated. Options such as tenanting out the building will be considered as part of the re-evaluation. The AFP has neither dumped nor abandoned Anzac Park West, as indicated in the Canberra Times article from which the senator no doubt takes his interest. The costs incurred with regard to Anzac Park West are $59.4 million, which comprises the following: as of 14 August 2007, administration has spent $43 million on the base building refurbishment, and $16 million has been spent on the base building works, including professional fees and the AFP’s operational administrative costs.

Having answered the question, can I say that this is a very important agency. I do not want to see it become a political football. It has had to expand under great pressure, particularly since the events of 9-11, and I wish the senator would take note of that.