Krissy Barrett: AFP chief Reece Kershaw's shock resignation paves way for first female police boss

West Australian

3 days ago

Reece Kershaw's shock resignation as Australian Federal Police Commissioner has has paved the way for the force's first female boss and a strong focus on counter terrorism and espionage.
At a surprise press conference at Parliament House on Monday, Prime Minister Anthony Albanese announced Krissy Barrett would be appointed as the new AFP commissioner.
Ms Barrett starts the job in early October, after Mr Kershaw announced he would finish up his post a year earlier than expected.
Mr Kershaw's resignation became public days after rumours began to swirl on Friday that he had quit, yet the AFP would not answer questions, saying only he had 'not submitted his resignation'.
However, Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke on Monday said Mr Kershaw told him a couple of weeks ago that he wanted to retire this year. He said he was surprised by the revelation.
Mr Kershaw, who was initially appointed for five years in 2019, had his term extended last year until October 2026.
'I wasn't expecting the conversation, I wasn't expecting the announcement from him, but he leaves with his head held high and on the best possible terms with the Government,' Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke said.
The Prime Minister said the Government was 'deeply grateful' for Mr Kershaw's service and that the police officer had made an extraordinary contribution to the nation.
'On a personal note, as the incoming Prime Minister, can I say that the personal relationship that I've enjoyed with the Commissioner as well during particular events – all of which we would rather not have to deal with – Commissioner Kershaw had been absolutely on call, 24 hours a day, seven days a week, with his commitment to his fellow Australians,' he said.
Mr Kershaw said nearly 11 years leading police forces — including five years as the NT Police commissioner — had taken its toll on family life.
'Being a grandfather has changed me dramatically, and I need to be there for my family. Policing is such a hard profession that we work in, and we sacrifice a lot, in particular our family, including their careers – my wife included, she gave up her career to support me,' he said.
'It's time for me to give back.'
Mr Kershaw came under intense scrutiny earlier this year over the Dural caravan incident, which was originally thought to be an anti-Semitic terrorism plot but later revealed as a 'criminal con job' by organised crime figures for their personal benefit.
Before the revelation, Mr Kershaw faced sustained questioning from Coalition politicians about what he had told Mr Albanese and when about the discovery of the caravan laden with explosives in Sydney's north-west in January.
He insisted he had briefed ministers at the 'appropriate time' and in an appropriate way.
He also cautioned senators that providing details in public, 'whether it seems innocuous or not, can have an impact on investigations' and give suspects knowledge of what police knew and when.
The AFP was shuffled back into the Home Affairs portfolio after the May election, having been under the Attorney-General's purview during Labor's first term, in what some observers saw as an admission the caravan incident had shown up the weaknesses of splitting the police force from the rest of the intelligence community.
One national security insider thought Mr Kershaw would have been happier with the AFP's return to Home Affairs.
Ms Barrett is currently the deputy commissioner managing the national security portfolio — a role that meant she was the officer charged with publicly revealing that the Dural caravan plot was a fake.
She became deputy commissioner in March 2024 after leading the counter-terrorism and special investigations teams, including tackling foreign interference and espionage.
Unusually, her career with the AFP started in a non-uniformed role as an administrative assistant in Melbourne. Her career included service in the Solomon Islands and the Bali bombing investigation, for which she received the Police Overseas Medal and Operations Medal.
This experience brings her to the force's top job at a time when the international policing environment is shifting focus to deal more with threats from terrorism and spying, and less on traditional territory such as drugs, one observer believed.
'The AFP's remit, experience and capabilities have changed dramatically over the years. We now police in an ever-changing and ever-challenging environment,' Ms Barrett said.
'But despite these challenges, the AFP's agility and innovation has ensured that we are a constant and dependable source of protection for Australians and Australia's way of life.'
As if underscoring this, hours after Ms Barrett's elevation was announced, the AFP and ASIO announced they had charged a Chinese woman in Canberra with reckless foreign interference.
Police alleged the woman was tasked by China's Public Security Bureau to covertly gather information about the Canberra branch of Buddhist association Guan Yin Citta.
Ms Barrett also pledged to be a champion for the AFP members, whose dedication and selflessness she said made her proud every day.
Opposition Leader Sussan Ley and shadow Home Affairs minister Andrew Hastie jointly congratulated Ms Barrett on her appointment, saying she was 'well-equipped to lead the AFP in its important work in defending Australia's national security'.
They thanked Mr Kershaw for having 'tirelessly served' the Australian community for three decades and wished him the best for his future endeavours.