AFP to lead homeland security agency in national security shake-up

THE AFP will become the lead agency under a new model for a Homeland Security department being considered by the government.

THE Australian Federal Police will become the lead agency under a new model for a Homeland Security department being considered by the government as part of a wide-reaching shake-up of national security.

But the domestic and foreign spy agencies ASIO and ASIS would stay under the control of the Attorney-General’s office in a compromise deal to quell potential Cabinet unrest.

Counter terrorism training in Brisbane / Picture: Marc Robertson

The Daily Telegraph understands a radical restructuring across the top tiers of government is being pursued and could be rolled out before next year.

The departure of Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet boss Ian Watt is believed to be the first, with other bureaucrats with national security responsibilities also to be replaced.

The model favoured by the PM’s office is a Homeland Security that would bring the AFP and its counterterrorism functions under a single “operational” agency umbrella including also customs, immigration, borderprotection, the Australian Crime Commission, Austrac and emergency management.

Unlike the UK model, the domestic intelligence agency ASIO — the equivalent of MI5 — would remain under the Attorney-General’s Department.

And the Australian Secret Intelligence Service (ASIS) would remain under the Department of Foreign Affairs.

The shake-up comes as ASIO yesterday proscribed a terrorist group linked to al-Qaeda — West African jihadi group al Murabitun — warning it was planning attacks. While it has no known links to any Australians, anyone involved with the group would now face a 25-year jail term.

The main purpose of the shake-up would ensure the AFP was elevated to portfolio responsibility under a Cabinet minister with a permanent seat on the National Security Committee rather than the junior ministerial responsibility of Justice, which it currently comes under.

The responsibility for the new super Homeland Security agency is likely to fall to immigration minister Scott Morrison, who has been accused by some colleagues of making a “land grab” for more power.

An anti-terrorism soldier in Brisbane / Picture: Marc Robertson