ACT Liberal senator Zed Seselja has rejected suggestions from independent challenger David Pocock that the Morrison government has overlooked the Australian Federal Police, saying the AFP's budget and workforce has increased over the past few years.
After a briefing by the Australian Federal Police Association, Mr Pocock told The Canberra Times on Tuesday the AFP was "stretched" and "not well-resourced" while noting the Australian Defence Force is earmarked to grow, under the Coalition, by 30 per cent by 2040.
The Climate 200-backed candidate described the AFP as being let down. The recent ACT Policing shift to online reporting for burglaries is, according to Mr Pocock, a recurring complaint.
"A shortage of officers on the ground has been raised with me time and again across the territory," Mr Pocock said.
He also pointed to the needs of the 7000-strong workforce across the nation, as well as those who have served and need help.
"There needs to be more support for them," he said. "They're also the lowest-paid police force in the country which to me doesn't seem right given the role that they play."
But, Senator Seselja accused the current ACT government of spreading ACT Policing resources too thin.
"It is the ACT Labor-Greens government that is delivering policing shortages, making the jobs of our hard-working officers that much more difficult," Senator Seselja said in a statement.
"At the same time the AFP are doing great work in getting record levels of illicit drugs off our streets, the ACT government is looking to decriminalise ice, heroin and cocaine."
Mr Pocock is backing the police association's push to expand the workforce by about 10 per cent to 8500 officers by 2025, as well as its call to improve the AFP's budget by exempting it from the efficiency dividend, as a minimum, while better supporting officers who have served.
He is calling for a national firearms registry, and he is now behind senator Jacqui Lambie's call for a "blue card" to support AFP officers who need help.
Senator Seselja said the Morrison government has increased the AFP's total budget to more than $1.7 billion a year, and grown the AFP by more than 1,000 members since 2018.
He also pointed to new police and law enforcement powers to crack down on dark web crime, protect children and protect individuals and businesses from ransomware.
