Jockeying and mudslinging began long before AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin announced he would not stay on
Speculation and mudslinging began months before the current AFP Commissioner announced he would not seek to renew his contract.
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A grubby internal mudslinging campaign is playing out by supporters of candidates jockeying for the coveted position of the next Australian Federal Police commissioner
Current Commissioner Andrew Colvin yesterday announced he would not seek to renew his term after his five-year contract expires on October 1.
In the running to replace him are a string of high-ranking officers, but some have already found themselves the target of internal complaints.
It is understood the complaints, which can take many months to determine even if they are found to be baseless, effectively putting the officer’s candidacy at risk.
It is not suggested any of the candidates for the role are suspected of wrongdoing or are behind the campaign to derail the other contenders.
Mr Colvin is the second consecutive AFP Commissioner not to stay on after their five-year term.
Former commissioner Tony Negus also left after five years and took up a position as High Commissioner to Canada.
AFP staff expressed mixed emotions yesterday at the announcement with some saying they were shocked and surprised that Mr Colvin would not be continuing.
The contenders to succeed Mr Colvin are believed to include Deputy AFP Commissioner Ramzi Jabbour, who is one of the most experienced, well respected, and well-liked senior deputies of the AFP. He has a reputation for getting things done and for forging close relationships with other law enforcement and intelligence agencies and also the different state police forces — something that has not always been in play in the past.
But Mr Jabbour who has a 30-year career in policing across the counter-terrorism, people-smuggling, fraud and money-laundering portfolios, has been on leave since March while unknown complaints against him are investigated.
It is understood given the recent push for gender diversity within the AFP there is a preference for a woman to take the helm for the first time. Most law enforcement and intelligence sources spoken to by News Corp have said current ACT Commissioner Justine Saunders would be the standout candidate. Ms Saunders is also widely respected and enjoys the backing of many within the AFP. She left the AFP last year to take a position as Deputy Commissioner Australian Border Force support.
Current AFP Deputy Leanne Close was also believed to be favoured as a contender until the collapse of the case against former ATO deputy commissioner Michael Cranston.
Ms Close was the public face of the investigation announcing a series of raids in 2017 and that Mr Cranston had been charged with two counts of dishonestly misusing his position to benefit his son Adam.
The collapse of the case against Mr Cranston — he was found not guilty by a District Court jury earlier this year — raises questions about Operation Elbrus, and a number of mistakes made by the AFP during the investigation. It is not suggested Ms Close made those mistakes.
In the wake of Mr Colvin’s announcement that he would not continue, some AFP members have spoken out about Mr Colvin’s leadership saying the organisation is fractured and dysfunctional, and they criticised the rapid change being pushed inside the organisation as leading to increased anxiety and low morale within the organisation.
The new approach targeting gender diversity which included removing gender bias from promotional decisions received pushback from both men and women; men not wanting to apply because they believed the women be chosen regardless of ability, and some women worried that they would not be getting any promotion on their own merits.
Originally published as Jockeying and mudslinging began long before AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin announced he would not stay on
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