Jason Wood La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Public Security
3:37 pm
My question is to the Minister for Home Affairs. Given that your government is determined to saddle Australia with $42 million of debt in an attempt to protect jobs, why has the Australian Crime Commission been forced to cut staff by 104 since July 2008, the AFP Air Security Officer Program reduced its air marshals by up to 40 per cent since July 2008, and the AFP cut 200 staff since November 2007?
Bob Debus Macquarie, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs
All of the figures that I have heard the honourable member quote are simply incorrect. They are just simply wrong. I can tell you that the Air Security Officer Program has not been cut significantly.
Unidentified interjection - Hansard doesn't record who said this
Opposition Members:
Opposition members interjecting—
Harry Jenkins Speaker
Order! The question has been asked; it is being responded to.
Bob Debus Macquarie, Australian Labor Party, Minister for Home Affairs
I can tell you that the Australian Federal Police have not cut staff significantly. Indeed, the staffing figures remain very similar now to what they were at this time last year. I can tell you that the Australian Crime Commission’s employment fluctuates according to the particular projects that are underway and according to whether the officers that are seconded from other police forces are appropriately employed at a particular time. The fact is that the figures quoted by the honourable member are simply incorrect and we are not losing any officials from these organisations at all.
Jason Wood La Trobe, Liberal Party, Shadow Parliamentary Secretary for Justice and Public Security
Mr Speaker, I rise on a point of order. Can the minister then table the actual figures?