Cash splash for detainee monitoring eases union tensions

By Julian Bajkowski

November 28, 2023

Clare O’Neil
Minister for home affairs Clare O’Neil. (AAP Image/Mick Tsikas)

Two of the key unions representing public servants impacted by the High Court’s decision to render indefinite immigration detention unlawful have welcomed an emergency $255 million cash injection into both the Australian Federal Police and the Department of Home Affairs to fund the monitoring of detainees released into the community.

As the government continues to cop flak over the fallout from the decision of NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor, home affairs minister Clare O’Neil has moved swiftly to head off criticism that agencies were insufficiently resourced to undertake former detainee monitoring and surveillance, as the Opposition continued to make hay of the controversy.

The Australian Federal Police Association was last week sharply critical of the extra load placed on already strained federal officers by electronic monitoring and surveillance demands created by the detainee release, warning that the AFP was spread far too thin.

That warning siren appears to have had the desired effect, with a truckload of cash sent to secure the necessary sworn and civilian staff, as community concerns continued to escalate.

“The Australian Federal Police Association (AFPA) welcomes the announcement by the Albanese Government regarding an injection of funds for the Australian Federal Police (AFP), Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions,” the police union said in a statement.

“The AFP will receive $88 million to establish regional response teams and investigate breaches of visa conditions after the High Court of Australia’s decision to overturn indefinite immigration detention.”

However, AFPA president Alex Caruana cautioned the new money would not break the union’s resolve to do better on police pay, which has been locked at 11.2% by way of an Australian Public Service Commission determination.

“This injection of funding, which the AFPA has been calling for, alleviates a number of our concerns, and it’s pleasing to see the Government take quick action to allocate funding that will allow for dedicated resources to be put in place to protect the community,” Caruana said.

“It is crucial this funding does not detract from the need to extend further funds to our hardworking members who have commenced critical negotiations for a new enterprise agreement.  While additional funding is always welcome, the need for this has highlighted how vital our AFP police officers and staff are to the continuing protection of Australia and its communities.”

The Community and Public Sector Union (CPSU) similarly welcomed the $150 million for more Australian Border Force (ABF) staff to run compliance, investigations, removal and surveillance functions.

Like the AFPA, the CPSU had also raised concerns about the extra workload created by the detainee release.

“We are pleased to see that the Department took those concerns seriously and has moved to ensure that Border Force will be adequately staffed to respond to the increased demand.

“This boost will not only provide additional staff to work on the frontline but will ensure that the work they do is done in a safer way,” CPSU national secretary Melissa Donnelly said.

“There are ongoing staffing and operational pressures across the Department of Home Affairs, and the CPSU will continue to advocate for these to be addressed.”

The announcement of the extra funding came on the same day as Prime Minister Anthony Albanese revealed that the secretary of the Department of Home Affairs, Mike Pezzullo had been sacked for Australian Public Service Code of Conduct breaches related to meddling in politics following an investigation by former Australian Public Service commissioner Lynelle Briggs.

The investigation was triggered by the revelation of a series WhatsApp exchanges between Pezzullo and Liberals back-room fixer Scott Briggs where Pezzullo played politics rather than remaining independent.

Lynelle Briggs is not related to Scott Briggs.


READ MORE:

Ending Australia’s old precedent of indefinite detention — at speed

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