Swan caves to Opposition Pressure - 6 May 2008
23 Nov 2008
Media release
“Opposition pressure has ensured that Treasurer Wayne Swan will deliver the Labor Party’s election promise to increase the Australian Federal Police by 500 sworn officers,” Christopher Pyne, Shadow Minister for Justice and Border Protection said today.
“But the Treasurer has refused to rule out operational budget cuts to our vital security forces,” Mr Pyne added.
“Over the past six months the Opposition has been pressuring the Rudd Government to deliver on it’s commitment to the AFP. I raised this issue in the media on 11th and 23rd of January, the 6th and 11th of February, the 10th and the 18th of March, the 10th of April and the 2nd of May.
“We have also called upon the Government to guarantee that the AFP will suffer no operational budget cuts in the upcoming Federal Budget.
“But the Government has failed to confirm funding will be maintained at the level it is now. Home Affairs Minister Bob Debus recently confirmed that the AFP will need to cut their budget by $24 million to meet an ‘efficiency dividend’.
“With increasing demands on the AFP’s operational capacity from overseas deployments, and the important role they have in protecting our borders from an influx of illicit drugs, it is vital funding for the AFP is maintained.
“The Government should come out and guarantee no cuts to the AFP now,” Mr Pyne said.
6th May 2008
Media Contact: Adam Howard, 0400 414 833