AFP to tackle drugs, terrorism

SOME of the most important and lasting changes to the way Australia fought crime and terrorism happened under the Fraser government in 1979.

SOME of the most important and lasting changes to the way Australia fought crime and terrorism happened under the Fraser government in 1979.

It was the year that the Australian Federal Police was established, launching its first investigation in October, 1979 as federal cabinet was also deciding on the way forward in tackling drug trafficking and terrorism.

Go to our 1979 Cabinet papers special section.

In May, cabinet decided to set up a dedicated counter-terrorist assault team to deal with high-risk threats.

After looking at military-led units around the world, particularly in Britain and the US, advice to cabinet was the government could no longer justify the "ad-hoc and part-time" mix of police and defence.

Cabinet then agreed that the team should be developed within the ranks of the Special Air Service regiment, based in Western Australia.

Later that year, cabinet also moved to sharpen its attack on the growing problem of illicit drugs coming into Australia.

A series of perceived leaks out of the then Federal Narcotics Bureau led to the Williams Royal Commission into drugs.

Judge Williams recommended the bureau be disbanded, with its duties rolled into Customs and the newly created AFP.

Cabinet considered several options, including keeping the bureau, or making it a statutory authority staffed by Customs and AFP agents but it was William's preference, in disbanding the bureau and splitting its duties between Customs and the AFP, that won cabinet endorsement.