Australian Federal Police faces overhaul after faults flagged in media raids
Australian Federal Police Commissioner Reece Kershaw has ordered a review into the handling of sensitive investigations after outcry following raids on News Corp Australia and the ABC last year.
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The Australian Federal Police needs “key structural and governance change” to help it manage sensitive investigations better, a review has found.
AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw ordered the review into the handling of sensitive investigations in October last year.
It came after outcry following raids on News Corp Australia and the ABC last year.
Led by John Lawler, the former head of the Australian Crime Commission and former AFP deputy commissioner, the review concluded the force needed to make changes to raise community confidence.
The review examined AFP processes around unauthorised disclosures, parliamentary privilege, espionage, foreign interference and war crimes.
Mr Kershaw welcomed the report’s findings on Friday and vowed to act on them.
“Implementing the options will provide a consistent approach, ensuring that sensitive investigations are quickly identified, have regular senior executive oversight and are handled in line with the public interest,” he said.
Last year’s police raids on the home of News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst and the Sydney offices of the ABC triggered a national debate about press freedom.
The raids were part of investigations into articles based on leaked government documents.
“I have asked the AFP’s audit committee to conduct regular monitoring to ensure full implementation of the options adopted from this report,” Mr Kershaw said.
“I continue to have the utmost confidence in the AFP’s investigators and staff who conduct a range of complex matters in challenging environments and who do so to a very high standard.”
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Mr Kershaw was appointed in July last year after predecessor Andrew Colvin retired. He acknowledged a need to “improve the processes” in sensitive investigations.
The review found the AFP had failed to implement a range of internal and external review and audit findings.
“A clear objective of this review is to improve that confidence in the AFP’s actions in protecting Australians and Australia’s interests,” the review stated.
“If the AFP implements effectively the options contained in this report then significant improvements to the conduct of investigations, including matters involving journalists and media outlets, will occur. Further, community confidence in the AFP will be enhanced.”