Vanstone, Amanda --- "From the Minister's Desk" [2000] AUFPPlatypus 24; (2000) 69 Platypus: Journal of the Australian Federal Police, Article 2

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From the Minister's Desk

Senator Amanda Vanstone

Minister for Justice and Customs

On the 19th of October this year the AFP turned 21. In more ways than one, the year 2000 has seen the AFP come of age and establish a place for itself nationally and internationally as a law enforcement agency to be reckoned with.

As I reflect on the year to date, the sheer size and diversity of AFP contributions to the protection of Australian society immediately comes to mind. Nationally, AFP operations extend from Hobart in the South to Thursday Island in the north and from Norfolk Island in the East to the Cocos (Keeling) Islands in the west and everywhere in between.

AFP members are combating the transnational organised crime syndicates behind drug importation, but they are also bringing sophisticated investigation skills to bear against environmental crime and collisions at sea. AFP officers are on the beat in Canberra and on the beat in Dili. They are protecting our currency in Sydney and investigating tax rorts in Western Australia.

With a force of 2859 having such a wide and significant impact, I could not be happier.

The AFP has successfully taken the investigation of crimes against Australian society off shore – in Fiji or the Philippines, Beirut or Beijing, AFP officers are working with other law enforcement agencies to ensure that those involved in transnational crimes such as narcotics distribution and people smuggling are apprehended and their syndicates dismantled.

In summary, the news is good, but it is also not without cost. Australian society will never understand the sacrifices that AFP members are making and continue to make. While they will see the headlines with the record seizures, they will never realise that behind these seizures, are many hours spent conducting physical and electronic surveillance, or painstakingly analysing and interpreting thousands of documents and phone records. They will not understand that spending Christmas in Timor, Cyprus or the Solomon Islands away from family and loved ones can be a time of reflection or loneliness. They will not understand that successful prosecutions are not merely about high profile arrests, but rather about painstakingly obtaining all evidence from all sources. Society will not know of the hours spent walking the precincts of the court waiting to be called to give evidence.

So with the rapid approach of Christmas, I have the great pleasure in passing on my thanks to you all. Please rest assured that I recognise, and will continue to ensure that this government recognises your success and sacrifice. It is with certainty that I proclaim ‘you are a force second to none’