AFP Commissioner Reece Kershaw resigns, to be replaced by Krissy Barrett
Anthony Albanese on Monday thanked Mr Kershaw for his long service and named Deputy Commissioner Krissy Barrett as his successor.
Mr Barrett will be the first female to lead the AFP.
'Reece, you have achieved an enormous amount for our nation and I hope you feel incredibly proud,' the Prime Minister told reporters at Parliament House, flanked by Mr Kershaw, Ms Barrett and Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke.
'We certainly wish you all the best as you get to spend precious time with your family.'
He said the outgoing commissioner 'has made an extraordinary contribution to public life, and we are deeply grateful for his service'.
Mr Albanese also said he and Mr Kershaw had developed a strong 'personal relationship' forged by 'events … we would rather not have to deal with'.
'Commissioner Kershaw has been absolutely on call 24 hours a day, seven days a week with his commitment to his fellow Australians,' he said.
On Ms Barrett, he called her the 'obvious choice' to fill Mr Kershaw's shoes.
'Krissy has expertise in community policing and operations, counter-terrorism first response, serious financial crime, and transnational, serious and organised Crime,' Mr Albanese said.
'In her most recent position as deputy commissioner with the AFP, Ms Barrett has managed the National Security portfolio.
'She is highly renowned for her leadership capability, and I've certainly seen that first-hand in the dealings that I've had with Ms Barrett, as well as the way that she has represented the AFP on matters before the National Security Committee.'
Ms Barrett thanked Mr Albanese and Mr Burke for her appointment, calling it a 'great honour'.
'I am truly humbled to serve as the ninth nommissioner of the Australian Federal Police,' she said.
'I first started my career with the AFP as a 21-year-old administrative assistant down in our Melbourne office, and I never imagined that, one day, I would be leading this very fine organisation, which now has a workforce of over 8000 people and is posted in more than 30 countries across the world.'
She holds more than 25 years experience.
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