Media raids officer Neil Gaughan named Canberra police chief

The Australian Federal Police officer who oversaw two controversial raids on the ABC and News Corporation is set to become the ACT’s new chief police officer.

Neil Gaughan is moving to the ACT command as part of a wide-ranging restructure. Picture: Josie Hayden

The Australian Federal Police officer who oversaw two controversial raids on the ABC and News Corporation last year is set to become the ACT’s new chief police officer.

Deputy Commissioner Neil Gaughan, a respected and long-serving member of the AFP, is being moved to the ACT command as part of a wide-ranging organisational restructure that will see the AFP move its most senior officers out of headquarters and into the regions.

Under the arrangement with the ACT government, the AFP are responsible for community policing in the capital, effectively making Canberra a region, even though it is also the site of AFP’s headquarters.

Mr Gaughan will take over from current ACT Chief Police Officer Assistant Commissioner Ray Johnson, who is leaving the force, The Australian has been told.

Mr Gaughan will take on an expanded role, which in addition to ACT Policing, will include security for Parliament House.

Mr Gaughan has previously served as the AFP’s Deputy Commissioner for organised crime and counter-terrorism.

He oversaw the investigation into ABC journalist Dan Oakes, who published details of leaked military files about alleged war crimes in Afghanistan, and News Corp journalist Annika Smethurst, who detailed secret government discussions about expanding the surveillance powers of the Australian Signals Directorate.

The High Court ruled two weeks ago that the warrant used by the AFP to raid Smethurst’s Canberra home was invalid, as it did not specify the alleged offence she was suspected of committing.

However, AFP sources say Mr Gaughan’s transfer is unrelated to the raids. Rather, it reflects a desire on the part of the new commissioner to put a more senior officer into the expanded role.