Wed, 14th May 2008

Law enforcement agencies fall victim to Budget cuts

Senator the Hon George Brandis SC
Shadow Attorney-General

The Hon Christopher Pyne MP
Shadow Minister for Justice & Border Protection
Shadow Minister Assisting the Shadow Minister for Immigration & Citizenship

Joint Release.

Most of the law enforcement, national security and border protection agencies within the Attorney-General’s portfolio have suffered budget cuts significantly beyond the 2% Efficiency Dividend.

Of particular concern to the Opposition is the severe cutback to national security agencies. On the basis of the Budget’s assumption of 3.25% inflation over 2008-2009, ASIO has suffered a funding reduction, in real terms, of 8.8%. [Budget Paper No. 4, p. 24]. The Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service have also suffered reductions in real terms.

Expenditure on national security agencies ought to have been quarantined from budget cuts. Instead, the Government has chosen to waste money with additional expenditures such as $4.2 million over two years being spent on a flawed inquiry into the Haneef matter and $2.8 million investigating whether Australia needs an unnecessary Bill of Rights. [Budget Paper No. 2, p. 85].

At a time when Australia’s national security is in jeopardy from international terrorism, this is no time to be reducing spending on the national security agencies while increasing spending on political stunts and gestures.