AFPA WELCOMES FINDINGS OF BEALE REVIEW
Friday 18th December, 2009
The AFPA congratulates Mr Roger Beale AO for the quality of his Report released today.
As part of an election promise to the PFA - AFPA, the then Labor Opposition committed to a Federal Audit of Policing Capabilities. Once in Government the Prime Minister Kevin Rudd appointed Mr Roger Beale AO to conduct this important audit.
Although there was no formal submission process, the AFPA was asked by Mr Beale to make a written submission. The AFPA provided an extensive submission and appeared before Mr Beale AO and his audit team on a number of occasions. The AFPA was the only non-government body to be invited to do so under the terms of reference.
The findings of the Beale review fully validate concerns raised by the AFPA. The findings and recommendations in the Report titled: 'New Realities: National Policing in the 21st Century - Federal Audit of Police Capabilities' positively addresses the major recommendations made by the AFPA in its submission entitled ‘Enforcing Against Risk’.
The last significant independent review of the AFP was conducted in 2000 by the Senate Legal and Constitutional Reference Committee known as the McKinnon Inquiry. The findings of that report also validated concerns raised by the AFPA. The recommendations in its 2001 report titled ‘Order in the Law’ positively addressed the major recommendations made by the AFPA in its submission and when giving evidence before that inquiry. Importantly it led to the Fisher Review of AFP Professional Standards which resulted in a very positive outcome for AFPA members.
Once again, when given the opportunity to appear before an independent inquiry, the AFPA has been successful in persuading decision makers due to the accuracy and quality of the information we provide, which often conflicts with the ‘corporate line’ spun by government agencies to please their political masters.
The AFPA looks forward to working with Government and the AFP management to ensure that the recommendations of the ‘New Realities: National Policing in the 21st Century’ are fully implemented in a timely manner, whilst ensuring minimum disruption and positive outcomes for our members.
The AFPA Bulletin is available on the following link including a link to the full report:
secure.afpa.org.au/get/763.pdf
A media statement by the Minister for Home Affairs in relation to the report can be found on the following link:
www.ministerhomeaffairs.gov.au/www/ministers/oconnor.nsf/Page/MediaReleases_2009_FourthQuarter_18December2009-ReformstoenhancePolicecapability