Michael Keenan (Stirling, Liberal Party, Minister for Justice) Share this | Hansard source

Mr Speaker, I can give you a preview: I will be using my next minute to go through the record of this side of the House versus the record of the other side of the House because their record was completely shameful.

The premise of this question is complete and utter fantasy. What has happened since we arrived in office in 2013? We have consistently provided the Australian Federal Police and all the other law enforcement agencies we have responsibility for with the funding they need to do this job. Unfortunately, the opposition has a very limited understanding of the budget process. I am happy to provide the shadow Minister for Justice with a briefing. What I will explain to her is that the budget process happens over a period of four years. This shadow minister has a record. When we announce new funding for the Australian Federal Police—say, if I were to announce $100 million for the Australian Federal Police starting next year—she will subsequently put out a media release saying we are cutting the Australian Federal Police budget by $100 million in four years time. This is the level of understanding that is had by the shadow minister over there. The Australian Federal Police has never been better off than it is at the moment.

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