Jacqui Lambie (Tasmania, Independent) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I move:

That the Senate—

(a) notes that the Australian Federal Police Association warns that:

  (i) the 2015-16 Budget Papers indicate the Australian Federal Police's (AFP) fiscal position through the forward estimates will deteriorate to the tune of $112 million,

  (ii) as an operational agency, the brunt of this deterioration will be borne within employee ranks, with funds available for employee benefits reducing by $61 million,

  (iii) by straight division, this represents a reduction of 450 staff, though the actual number will be higher,

  (iv) enterprise bargaining is currently underway in the AFP, with employees being unable to sacrifice sufficient terms and conditions to fully offset the $94 million cost of delivering a two per cent per annum salary increase over a three-year agreement,

  (v) the consequence of this will be a further reduction in staffing numbers, by perhaps as many as an additional 400 to offset the cost, and

  (vi) in total, the AFP is confronting a situation where up to 1,000 employees could be lost through budgetary deterioration and enterprise bargaining; and

(b) calls on the Government to identify which operational outcomes will no longer be required as the AFP cannot deliver business as usual into the future in this environment.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

I seek leave to make a short statement.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Leave is granted for one minute.

James McGrath (Queensland, Liberal National Party, Assistant Minister to the Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

It is incorrect that staffing numbers have reduced in the AFP. This government has for three budgets in a row forecast a steady average staffing level for the AFP between 6,200 and 6,300. Following our successes in stopping the boats and peacekeeping missions in Timor Leste and the Solomon Islands, fewer staffing resources are required for these functions, allowing them to be redirected to other priorities. The government has also invested $164 million in new money since the 2015-16 MYEFO in several priority areas, including resources for the AFP to enhance the protection of its staff, the new cyber strategy and the expansion of fraud and anticorruption operational capacity. This demonstrates the government's commitment to supporting the AFP and its operational responsibilities.

Gavin Marshall (Victoria, Deputy-President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The question is that the motion as moved by Senator Lambie be agreed to.

Question agreed to.