Bill Shorten (Maribyrnong, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Opposition) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Prime Minister. Is the Prime Minister aware of any policies or decisions taken by him or his government that are diminishing the operational capacity of the Australian Federal Police?

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

As the Minister for Justice very eloquently and comprehensively replied, the support that we have given to the Australian Federal Police is at an unprecedented level, $321 million in the last budget, the largest single funding boost for the AFP for policing capabilities in a decade.

Ms O'Neil interjecting—

Tony Smith (Speaker) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

The member for Hotham will cease interjecting.

Malcolm Turnbull (Wentworth, Liberal Party, Prime Minister) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

What we have provided the AFP with is the ability to fill new specialist positions so vital to keep Australians safe in the face of the threat of terrorism: 100 intelligence experts, over 100 tactical response and covert surveillance operators and just under 100 new forensic specialists. I don't know whether honourable members opposite have had the opportunity to visit the Federal Police headquarters there at Majura to see the extraordinary work that's undertaken by the tactical response team and by the forensic specialists. The police there are at the absolute cutting edge of science and technology. That's what we need to keep Australians safe, and we are providing them with the financial resources to enable them to do that.

But, in addition, what we're also doing is providing them with the legislation, with the laws, that they need to keep us safe. Again, one tranche of national security legislation after another has been passed through this parliament at the instigation of my government and indeed of the government headed by the member for Warringah. We have done that. We have done everything to make Australians safe and give our agencies, our national security agencies, our intelligence services and indeed the ADF all of the tools they need to keep Australians safe in dangerous times.