David Feeney (Batman, Australian Labor Party, Shadow Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

The success of Operation Polaris is known to all and, on the basis of its success, similar models have been replicated across the eastern seaboard—Taskforce Trident established in Melbourne in July 2012 and Taskforce Jericho established in Brisbane in July 2013. Forget this being a matter of Labor propaganda. This is a model that has been successful; indeed, so successful that, consistent to type, the minister has rushed to embrace it. Only a few months ago, the Minister for Justice, Michael Keenan, said:

Operation Polaris is vital in the Coalition Government's ongoing commitment to detect and disrupt and undermine the business models of organised criminal syndicates … The Polaris Taskforce has been successful in identifying significant vulnerabilities in the criminal supply chain and has achieved major seizures of drugs, guns and other contraband resulting in numerous arrests and the disruption of organised crime syndicates.

And 'Hear, hear!, I might say, Minister: you are precisely right, and it is tremendous that you speak so highly of an initiative under the previous Labor government.

That of course brings me to the key point here and that is the future of Operation Polaris, because I noted with some concern that in March Channel 10 reported that the government was not committed to continuing its funding for Operation Polaris. So this of course means that a very successful multiagency approach, embraced by you and used now in other states, faces the very real threat of being crushed under your watch.

I note that, on 15 May 2015, the most recent Illicit Drug Data Report, drawing on data from law enforcement, health services and academic material, concluded that for amphetamine-type stimulants, which include crystal methamphetamine, drug arrests are up 18 per cent and seizures of the drug are up 27 per cent—the number having doubled in the last five years. There were some 112,000 illicit drug arrests in the reporting period—the highest on record. Over 27 tonnes of illicit drugs have been seized nationally—the highest on record. The purity of ice in Victoria was the highest ever recorded in Australia, with the price having dropped by as much as $100,000 per kilogram.

So, Minister, given the success of this program, given the success you have trumpeted, I would like to hear from you about what the future of Operation Polaris is. Have the AFP received any indication that Polaris will have its funding renewed in the post-2015 period? Have there been any discussions with your office regarding the future of Operation Polaris; and, if so, can you please provide the parliament with details? When does the AFP expect to receive confirmation that Operation Polaris will continue to be funded? And do the AFP believe that the continuation of Operation Polaris is essential for fighting organised crime across Australia?

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