AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw retires a year early
Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett, who recently oversaw the AFP national security portfolio, will replace Kershaw in October.
Kershaw's early retirement comes after the police chief faced scrutiny over his handling of the Dural caravan plot in Sydney, which was first described as a terrorist act but was later revealed to be a fake plot.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke announced Kershaw's departure at a press conference in Canberra on Monday, saying the police commissioner would leave his role on good terms with the government after his six-year tenure.
'Commissioner Kershaw has made an extraordinary contribution to public life, and we are deeply grateful for his service,' Albanese said.'Commissioner Kershaw has been absolutely on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week with his commitment to his fellow Australians.'
Burke said Kershaw was retiring with his head held high to spend more time with family.
'Commissioner Kershaw asked to meet with me with no staff present and in the meeting, to my surprise, he went through ... where he was up to, both with family and grandchildren, and said that he had set October 3 as the date that he was intending to retire,' Burke said.
Former attorney-general Mark Dreyfus extended Kershaw's term in May last year for two years, instead of the usual five-year extension.
Government sources confirmed the two-year extension was because the police commissioner was not committed to a full term, but there was a view that none of the assistant commissioners were ready for the role. Barrett had impressed people with her national security work since then, prompting Kershaw to bring forward his retirement.
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