Punch exclusive: Keelty’s farewell email to his troops

The SLG had first-hand exposure to some of the challenges ahead with presentations from the Secretary to the Treasury, Dr Ken Henry, and the Reserve Bank Governor, Mr Glenn Stevens.  These distinguished presenters follow a large line of outstanding Australians who have attended similar meetings over the past nine years, including Aboriginal Leader, Dr Lowitja O’Donohue; Dr Fiona Wood burns specialist and Australian of the Year in 2005, former diplomat and Secretary of the Department of Defence, Dr Allan Hawke; Dr Michael Fullilove Director of the Global Issues Program at the Lowy Institute and senior fellow of the Brookings Institution; Ali Roude President of the NSW Islamic Council, as well as many Departmental Secretaries and agency heads, all of whom have recognised the value of working with the AFP to help make us a better organisation.

During our more recent discussions, we have looked at some of the prospects for the future of the AFP that will continue our ability to provide effective and cooperative policing services to the Australian Government and the Australian community.

To this end, we will benefit from the review currently being conducted by Mr Roger Beale because it will better define both the contemporary space in which we operate and the capability we require to operate in that space.  As we all know, the operating environment has changed significantly over recent years, which has impacted on the nature and scope of AFP business and this Review will help to define the Government’s priorities for the coming years.

In October, the AFP will be 30 years old so the renewal of our strategic direction is timely.  It will also coincide with the first steps to move to our new headquarters in Canberra at the Edmund Barton Building.

The recent approval of plans to redevelop the Australian Institute of Police Management in Manly is also a key development in the AFP’s contribution to Australasian policing into the future.  This Institute has provided, and will now continue to provide education and development for all Australian police jurisdictions and some international jurisdictions, not just the AFP.

These developments have provided me with an opportunity to reflect upon how the organisation has grown and developed under my leadership as my 35 year anniversary in policing approaches in September.

Our strong relationships and collaboration with the Indonesian National Police and other law enforcement partners in the region; the capacity building work we continue to do offshore; the establishment of educational facilities such as JCLEC; and our strong and productive relationships with many Commonwealth and State partner agencies, are some of the achievements of which I am immensely proud.

While these activities have gained public recognition over time, I have been equally proud of the many more operations our people have been involved with that have never featured in the public spotlight but contributed in a very significant way to the safety and security of our nation.  These often demanded great personal sacrifices from the members involved and were much appreciated by the Executive.

I have also deeply valued the opportunity to work with the non-government sector in my role on the Australian National Council on Drugs.  It is easy to think of our policing role in isolation rather than understand and appreciate the important role that the non-government sector plays in dealing with the policing challenges.

While there have been some significant personal challenges for the organisation, including the loss of Audrey Fagan, Brice Steele, Mark Scott and Adam Dunning, I have been moved and inspired by how our people dealt with these losses while remaining focused on the job at hand.

It has been an enormous privilege to lead an organisation like the AFP through such a watershed period in its history.  The organisation has changed and grown a lot over the past nine years since I became Commissioner and has cemented its place within the international law enforcement community.

I have now come to the view that my 35 year anniversary in policing is an appropriate time to complete my police service.  Accordingly, I have informed the Attorney-General, Mr McClelland and I will complete my term on Wednesday 2 September 2009.

I will provide you details of the Attorney’s plans to replace me as they become known, but as a first step I will clarify whether or not there is value in me having a role in the selection of the new Deputy Commissioner or whether that is best left for the AFP’s new Commissioner to be appointed by Government.

I will keep you informed of developments as they arise.

Mick Keelty
Commissioner