Serious questions are being raised about the resourcing of the Australian Federal Police following revelations that a dedicated national surveillance team was disbanded just months before the Bondi Junction mass stabbing attack.
Key Counter-Terrorism Unit Disbanded
It has been revealed that the AFP's National Surveillance Team, a specialised unit crucial for monitoring high-risk individuals, was quietly shut down in late 2023. This decision came despite the team being a vital tool in the nation's counter-terrorism and national security arsenal.
The team's primary function was to conduct physical surveillance on persons of interest where traditional electronic methods were insufficient or inappropriate. Its disbandment has left a significant gap in Australia's operational security capabilities, forcing state police forces to fill the void with their own, often less specialised, resources.
Revelations Follow Bondi Junction Tragedy
The timing of this revelation is particularly sensitive, coming in the wake of the tragic attack at Westfield Bondi Junction on April 13, 2024. While the attacker, Joel Cauchi, 40, was known to police in Queensland, the specific intelligence picture and any potential surveillance needs in the lead-up to the Sydney incident are part of ongoing investigations.
The disclosure about the defunct surveillance team was made by AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw during a recent Senate estimates hearing. Commissioner Kershaw confirmed the team was “disestablished” in the latter part of 2023 as part of an internal restructuring, with its functions redistributed.
Shadow Home Affairs Minister James Paterson seized on the information, arguing it exposed a critical under-resourcing of the federal police. He stated the loss of such a dedicated national asset was a direct result of funding pressures, leaving Australia less safe.
Mounting Pressure for Increased Police Funding
The news has ignited a political firestorm, with calls for an immediate boost to the AFP's budget. Critics argue that at a time of heightened global and domestic security threats, cutting such a niche but essential capability is dangerously short-sighted.
Proponents for more funding contend that the AFP must be equipped with a full suite of tools, including elite surveillance operatives, to proactively manage threats before they materialise into public attacks. The reliance on state police, who have different priorities and training, is seen as an inadequate patchwork solution.
The federal government, led by Home Affairs Minister Clare O'Neil, now faces intense scrutiny over its resourcing of the AFP and its overall strategy for tackling complex security challenges. The opposition is demanding clear answers on how the surveillance gap will be filled and what guarantees are in place for future funding.
This development underscores the perennial tension in security agencies between budgetary constraints and the need to maintain cutting-edge, and often expensive, specialist capabilities. The disbanding of the National Surveillance Team will likely fuel a broader debate about whether Australia is investing enough in the human intelligence and on-the-ground operations that are essential for preventing tragedies.
