Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
Section 1: Entity overview and resources
1.1 Strategic direction statement
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) is an independent statutory authority whose functions are set out in section 8 of the Australian Federal Police Act 1979 (AFP Act).
The AFP is also guided by a Ministerial Direction, issued under section 37(2) of the AFP Act.
Under section 8 of the AFP Act, the AFP’s functions include:
• the provision of police services in relation to laws of the Commonwealth, the property of the Commonwealth (including Commonwealth places), and the safeguarding of Commonwealth interests
• the provision of policing in the Australian Capital Territory, the Jervis Bay Territory and Australia’s external territories (e.g. Christmas Island)
• protective and custodial functions as directed by the Minister
• the provision of police services and police support services to assist or cooperate with an Australian or foreign law enforcement agency, intelligence or security agency, or government regulatory agency
• the provision of police services and police support services in relation to establishing, developing and monitoring peace, stability and security in foreign countries.
The AFP also performs functions under the Witness Protection Act 1994 and the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
The Ministerial Direction notes that the AFP is the Australian Government’s primary law enforcement agency. It identifies a number of key strategic priorities, including:
• countering the threat of terrorism and violent extremism to the safety and security of Australians and Australian interests, inside and outside Australia
• preventing, deterring, disrupting and investigating serious and organised criminal activities impacting on the interests of the Australian community, including through collaborating with state and territory law enforcement to ensure that they have access to Commonwealth intelligence and operational resources
• maintaining focus on investigating Commonwealth offences, particularly those relating to firearms and foreign bribery
• leading the Commonwealth’s efforts to disrupt organised criminal groups by restraining and seizing their assets and unexplained wealth
• contributing effectively to Australia’s border management and security, particularly by protecting Australia from people smuggling through prevention, deterrence and disruption
• contributing effectively to the Australian Government’s international law enforcement interests, including matters involving cooperation with key international partners to combat transnational organised crime and corruption, responses to emergencies, law and order capacity-building missions, and participation in internationally mandated peace operations
• countering the threat of cybercrime, including through achieving and maintaining a technological edge over criminals
• leading and managing the law enforcement and crime prevention aspects of aviation security
• ensuring that specific individuals, establishments and events, identified by the Australian Government as being at risk, are protected
• where possible, identifying emerging criminal threats to the national interest and, for issues in which the AFP has operational expertise, advising on appropriate approaches to counter such threats
• providing leadership to, and working with, other agencies to actively protect Commonwealth revenue
• taking a leadership role and collaborating with state and territory law enforcement to deliver national law enforcement initiatives to disrupt the operation of criminal gangs, reduce the proliferation of child exploitation material and reduce the harm caused by illicit drugs
• coordinating effectively with the Attorney-General’s Department to provide a joined-up portfolio approach on law and justice aid issues
• contributing effectively to whole-of-government efforts to prevent Australia from being a safe haven for proceeds of crime, including from corruption, or used for money laundering purposes
• actively contributing to broader government programmes or initiatives to ensure that they are informed by the AFP’s operational experience.
The focus of the AFP’s resource management strategy will be the flexible application of resources to activities that are likely to have the greatest impact on criminal networks and security threats, both within Australia and overseas.
The AFP will:
• respond to serious financial crime in order to enhance the integrity of the Australian economy, financial markets, regulatory frameworks and revenue collection
• maintain strong collaborative working arrangements with international partners to respond to regional people smuggling threats, including through capacity-building activities and regional intelligence gathering.
The AFP is held to the highest standards of professional and public accountability. The AFP’s professional standards are underpinned by the AFP core values and AFP code of conduct. The AFP core values are integrity, commitment, excellence, accountability, fairness, trust and respect. The AFP is also subject to external oversight and accountability measures, including the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity, the Commonwealth Ombudsman and the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Law Enforcement.
1.2 Entity resource statement
Table 1.1 shows the total resources from all sources. The table summarises how resources will be applied by administered and departmental classification.
Table 1.1: Entity resource statement—Budget estimates for 2015–16 as at Budget May 2015
available appropriation 2014–15
$’000 / Estimate of prior year amounts available in 2015–16 $’000 / Proposed at Budget 2015–16 $’000 / Total estimate 2015–16 $’000
ORDINARY ANNUAL SERVICES(a)
Departmental appropriation
Prior year appropriations(b) / 271,780 / 240,460 / – / 240,460
Departmental appropriation(c) / 1,096,657 / – / 1,049,810 / 1,049,810
s 74 retained revenue receipts(d) / 270,300 / – / 263,212 / 263,212
Total / 1,638,737 / 240,460 / 1,313,022 / 1,553,482
Administered expenses
Outcome 1 / 18,275 / – / 17,145 / 17,145
Total / 18,275 / – / 17,145 / 17,145
Total ordinary annual services [A] / 1,657,012 / 240,460 / 1,330,167 / 1,570,627
OTHER SERVICES(e)
Departmental non-operating
Prior year appropriations(b) / 43,139 / 80,172 / – / 80,172
Equity injections / 81,604 / – / 48,911 / 48,911
Total other services [B] / 124,743 / 80,172 / 48,911 / 129,083
Total available annual appropriations / 1,781,755 / 320,632 / 1,379,078 / 1,699,710
SPECIAL ACCOUNTS
Opening balance(f) / 5,834 / 5,834 / – / 5,834
Appropriation receipts(g) / 1,522 / – / 1,512 / 1,512
Non-appropriation receipts to special accounts / 6,988 / – / 6,988 / 6,988
Total special accounts [C] / 14,344 / 5,834 / 8,500 / 14,334
Total resourcing [A+B+C] / 1,796,099 / 326,466 / 1,387,578 / 1,714,044
Less appropriations drawn from annual or special appropriations above and credited to special accounts / (8,510) / – / (8,500) / (8,500)
Total net resourcing for entity / 1,787,589 / 326,466 / 1,379,078 / 1,705,544
All figures are GST exclusive.
(a) Appropriation Bill (No. 1) 2015–16.
(b) Estimated adjusted balance carried forward from previous year to meet existing leave provisions and other liabilities and to deliver previously announced capital projects.
(c) Includes an amount of $36.667m in 2015–16 for the departmental capital budget (see Table3.2.5 for further details). For accounting purposes this amount has been designated as ‘contributions by owners’.
(d) Estimated retained revenue receipts under section 74 of the Public Governance, Performance and Accountability Act 2013.
(e) Appropriation Bill (No. 2) 2015–16.
(f) Estimated opening balance for special accounts (less ‘special public money’ held in an account such as a Services for Other Entities and Trust Moneys Special Account). For further information on special accounts, see Table 3.1.2.
(g) Appropriation receipts from annual appropriations for 2014–15 included above.
1.3 Budget measures
Budget measures announced since the 2014–15 Mid-Year Economic and Fiscal Outlook (MYEFO) relating to the AFP are detailed in Budget Paper No.2 and are summarised in Part1 of Table1.2.
Table 1.2: Entity 2015–16 Budget measures
Part 1: Measures announced since the 2014–15 MYEFO
Programme / 2014–15 $’000 / 2015–16 $’000 / 2016–17 $’000 / 2017–18 $’000 / 2018–19 $’000Expense measures
National Security—Implementation of mandatory telecommunications data retention(a) / 1.1
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / – / –
National Security—Operation Sovereign Borders—Disruption Deterrence Task Group—continuation(a)(b) / 1.1
Departmental expenses / – / (16) / (11) / – / –
Australian Federal Police—future engagement with the United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus(a) / 1.2
Departmental expenses / – / – / – / – / –
Total expense measures / – / (16) / (11) / – / –
Capital measures
Australian Federal Police Data Centre Transition Project(a) / 1.1
Departmental capital / – / – / – / – / –
Australian Federal Police Melbourne Office(a) / 1.1
Departmental capital / – / nfp / nfp / – / –
National Security—Operation Sovereign Borders—Disruption Deterrence Task Group—continuation(a)(b) / 1.1
Departmental capital / – / 16 / 11 / – / –
Total capital measures / – / 16 / 11 / – / –
Prepared on a Government Finance Statistics (fiscal) basis.
(a) This measure will be funded out of existing resources.
(b) The lead entity for this measure is the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. The full measure description and package details appear in Budget Paper No. 2 under the Immigration and Border Protection portfolio.
Part 2: MYEFO measures and other measures not previously reported in a portfolio statement
The AFP has no MYEFO measures or other measures not previously reported in a portfolio statement.
Section 2: Outcomes and planned performance
2.1 Outcomes and performance information
Government outcomes are the intended results, impacts or consequences of actions by the government on the Australian community. Commonwealth programmes are the primary vehicle by which government entities achieve the intended results of their outcome statements. Entities are required to identify the programmes that contribute to government outcomes over the budget and forward years.
The AFP’s outcomes are described below together with the related programmes, specifying the performance indicators and targets used to assess and monitor the performance of the AFP in achieving government outcomes.
Outcome 1: Reduced criminal and security threats to Australia’s collective economic and societal interests through co-operative policing servicesOutcome 1 strategy
The AFP has two programmes under Outcome 1, emphasising federal operational policing and police development roles. Both programmes acknowledge key features of the current environment: (i) threats to Australians and Australia’s interests have an international base; (ii)organised serious crime represents, in itself, a security threat to Australian interests; and (iii) weak rule of law undermines development and provides opportunities for terrorist and other criminal enterprises to flourish. These programmes integrate prevention and disruption priorities towards crime reduction and impede criminal elements that threaten the security of Australians and Australian interests.
Programme 1.1, Federal Policing and National Security, addresses criminal and security threats through a range of activities, including national and transnational investigations, counter-terrorism, aviation operations, protective services, and joint taskforces with international, Commonwealth, state, territory and private-sector partners.
Programme 1.2, International Police Assistance, contributes to national security by providing policing support for enhanced rule of law internationally. This is facilitated through the AFP’s official development assistance in the Indo-Pacific region and the AFP’s contribution to United Nations missions.
The AFP prioritises deployment of its resources around criminal and security risks, and continuous development and enhancement of its investigations and specialist support capabilities. The AFP’s capabilities include communication, coordination, cybersafety, forensics, intelligence, legal, legislation, litigation, security and other technical and physical operations support services, which ensure the AFP remains well positioned to address advancements in criminal use of emerging technologies. The critical focus of the AFP’s Outcome 1 strategy is the development and application of resources and skills to tasks with the greatest impact and disruptive effect on criminal networks and security threats.
Outcome 1 expense statement
Table 2.1.1 provides an overview of the total expenses for Outcome 1, by programme.
Table 2.1.1: Budgeted expenses for Outcome 1
Outcome 1: Reduced criminal and security threats to Australia’s collective economic and societal interests through co-operative policing services / 2014–15 Estimated actual expenses $’000 / 2015–16 Estimated expenses $’000Programme 1.1: Federal Policing and National Security
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 3,553 / 3,207
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation(a) / 917,416 / 885,593
Special accounts / 8,510 / 8,500
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year(b) / 91,292 / 83,866
Total for programme 1.1 / 1,020,771 / 981,166
Programme 1.2: International Police Assistance
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 14,722 / 13,938
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation(a) / 238,272 / 225,789
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year(b) / 14,664 / 14,475
Total for programme 1.2 / 267,658 / 254,202
Outcome 1 totals by appropriation type
Administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 18,275 / 17,145
Departmental expenses
Departmental appropriation / 1,155,688 / 1,111,382
Special accounts / 8,510 / 8,500
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year / 105,956 / 98,341
Total expenses for Outcome 1 / 1,288,429 / 1,235,368
2014–15 / 2015–16
Average staffing level (number) / 5,509 / 5,288
Note: Departmental appropriation splits and totals are indicative estimates and may change in the course of the budget year as government priorities change.
(a) Departmental appropriation combines ‘Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1)’ and ‘Revenue from independent sources (s 74)’.
(b) Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year are made up of depreciation expenses, amortisation expenses and resources received free of charge.
Contributions to Outcome 1
Programme 1.1: Federal Policing and National SecurityProgramme 1.1 objective
This programme will reduce criminal and security threats to Australia’s collective economic and societal interests through promoting the safety and security of Australian communities and infrastructure; preventing, deterring, disrupting and investigating serious and organised crime and crimes of Commonwealth significance; and ensuring effective collaboration with international, Commonwealth, state and territory partners.
Programme 1.1 expenses
Programme 1.1 is expected to incur expenses of $981.166m in 2015–16, a decrease of $39.605m from the estimated actual expenses for 2014–15. This is largely driven by the conclusion of the protective security arrangements for the Cricket World Cup and Asian Football Cup ($16.867m), the reduction of funding for Operation Sovereign Borders ($8.265m), the impact of government savings measures ($13.377m) and a reduction in available funding from the efficiency dividend ($10.263m). This is offset by the full year of operation of additional counter-terrorism funding and enhanced protective security arrangements ($7.692m).
2014–15 Estimated actual $’000 / 2015–16 Budget $’000 / 2016–17 Forward estimate $’000 / 2017–18 Forward estimate $’000 / 2018–19 Forward estimate $’000
Annual administered expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 3,553 / 3,207 / 2,309 / 2,019 / 1,006
Special account expenses
Services for Other Entities and Trust Moneys / 8,510 / 8,500 / 8,495 / 8,509 / 8,523
Annual departmental expenses
Ordinary annual services (Appropriation Bill No. 1) / 815,150 / 786,303 / 771,603 / 729,272 / 734,125
Revenue from independent sources (s74) / 102,266 / 99,290 / 92,385 / 91,699 / 91,299
Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year(a) / 91,292 / 83,866 / 73,828 / 70,172 / 68,036
Total programme expenses / 1,020,771 / 981,166 / 948,620 / 901,671 / 902,989
(a) Expenses not requiring appropriation in the budget year are made up of depreciation expenses, amortisation expenses and resources received free of charge.