Australian Federal Police had to cancel or transfer 23 operations because they were too busy guarding Malcolm Turnbull’s $50 million mansion.
An internal AFP memo written in July said high-level cases like a 1.6-tonne cocaine bust had to given to overseas authorities due to lack of resources.
The Australian crime group behind it couldn’t be properly investigated because manpower and budgets were stretched to ‘breaking point’.
Australian Federal Police had to cancel or transfer 23 operations because they were too busy guarding Malcolm Turnbull’s $50 million mansion
An internal AFP memo written in July said high-level cases like a 1.6-tonne cocaine bust had to given to overseas authorities due to lack of resources
In addition to major operations, 102 cases of more than 1kg being trafficked into the country had to be given to NSW Police.
Guarding the Prime Minister’s Sydney mansion was one of three causes listed in the memo seen by the ABC, along with a $40 million security program for AFP buildings.
The senior NSW officer said 22 officers, the size of three investigative teams, were diverted to these security duties and warned this left the AFP dangerously thin.
Officers were working so much overtime they were falling asleep on the job from exhaustion and unscheduled leave absences jumped 13 per cent.
The officer warned the NSW AFP was under so much strain it was buckling under its operational load and lack of resources from its new security duties.
AFP Commissioner Andrew Colvin admitted to a Senate committee hearing on Tuesday that operations including drug busts were suspended on a daily basis.
Mr Turnbull’s mansion in the exclusive suburb of Point Piper, overlooking Sydney Harbour, is regularly swarmed with police both on foot and in boats
22 officers, the size of three investigative teams, were diverted to these security duties and warned this left the AFP dangerously thin
He said ‘supplementing staff at the Prime Minister’s residence’ was an example of duties officers were diverted to that affected the AFP’s operational capacity.
‘It could be Kirribilli House, it could be official establishments like Garden Island or it could be our own location, our own officers in Sydney,’ he said.
The situation was made worse by a $184 million budget cut over four years, that lead to the AFP slashing 117 jobs over the past year.
The Federal Opposition asked Mr Turnbull in question time if the memo was wrong to blame the abandoned drug bust on securing his own residence.
But the Prime Minister rejected the accusation, saying the AFP made record illegal drug hauls under his government.
‘I take [Commissioner Colvin’s] advice carefully and he knows that when he needs support from my Government to keep Australians safe he can count on that support,’ he said.
The memo warned the NSW AFP was under so much strain it was buckling under its operational load and lack of resources from its new security duties
Mr Turnbull chose to stay there instead of usual Prime Ministerial residences The Lodge in Canberra or Kirribilli House just over the harbour
Mr Turnbull’s mansion in the exclusive suburb of Point Piper, overlooking Sydney Harbour, is regularly swarmed with police both on foot and in boats.
He chose to stay there instead of usual Prime Ministerial residences The Lodge in Canberra or Kirribilli House just over the harbour.
Revelations of the AFP struggling to cope with guarding Mr Turnbull’s mansion came on the same day it raided the Australian Worker’s Union.
AFP officers entered the union’s offices looking for evidence of illegal donations to left-wing activist group GetUp! during Opposition Leader Bill Shorten’ time as an official there, or if it funded his 2007 election campaign.
The raid led to shadow workplace relations minister Brendan O’Connor claiming Mr Turnbull was using the AFP as a political ‘plaything’.
He even said the AFP had better things to do ‘to the extent that very serious drug importation crimes are occurring without sufficient resources deployed by the AFP.’
‘As a result of today, it’s clear now the government is using the power of the state and using taxpayer dollars to attack its political opponents.’
The situation was made worse by a $184 million budget cut over four years, that lead to the AFP slashing 117 jobs over the past year
Revelations of the AFP struggling to cope with guarding Mr Turnbull’s mansion came on the same day it raided the Australian Worker’s Union
The AFP said it was ‘disappointed’ the ‘internal working document’ was leaked and it would be investigated by the professional standards wing.
It said the memo sought to provide confidential operational advice and revealed operational sensitivities.
‘This undermines the AFP’s ability to ensure its resources are used efficiently, effectively and appropriately,’ it said.
‘The AFP makes decisions daily on operational priorities, resourcing and determining which matters pose the greatest risk to the safety and security to the Australian community, and directing its resources where they are most needed.
‘The provisions in place for Prime Minister Turnbull are entirely consistent with both the current enhanced security environment and protection measures in place for previous prime ministers.’