Taxing questions

The current policing arrangements came to be as a result of the combined learnings collected over many decades including a number of reviews done and reports presented. The implementation of the current policing model, known as the “All-In” model, is currently the focus of the Australian National Audit Office (ANAO), assessing the management of policing services at Australia’s major airports by the AFP.

Although airports deem the current model to be the most effective option delivering the best outcomes for Australia in the most efficient manner possible, a very strong opinion exists that the implementation process is not yet finalised.

Transitioning to the “All In” model for policing at Australia’s airports can only be deemed finalised once the appropriate performance management system (including agreed upon criteria, measurement and reporting of performance) is in place at all airports in consultation with airports.

Although the transition of staff and the attendance at airports by AFP officers constitute a large part of the transition project, the effective management framework of the new structure is incomplete.

The realisation of the fact that counter-terrorism efforts can only be effective within an environment where general crime is controlled, as well as the subsequent structuring of the force to reflect this reality has paid great efficiency dividends in terms of monetary outlay for the federal government, as well as to travelling Australians in terms of security and feeling secure.

No implementation is finalised until the required level of performance is set and services measured against that required level of performance. No clear idea exists of the activities the AFP will engage in, the outcomes they will be measured against, the performances that will be measured or the reporting that will flow from this performance management system.

The recent federal government proposals to create another border security tax is a potent reminder that even in government circles little understanding exists about the architecture of the current arrangement. The Labor government proposed levying an AFP Tax in the 2012-2013 budget with a potential impact to the aviation industry of $140 million over the forward estimates. The airport industry vehemently does not support the implementation of this tax.

In the absence of data collection, KPIs and set service levels, airports are unclear as to the basis upon which the ANAO will perform its audit, what the AFP will be measured on or how efficiencies and force effectiveness can be managed into the future.

The efficiency dividend demanded by government from the AFP has never been measured or reported on. A review of the current posture of the force is needed to ascertain whether resources are effectively applied at a number of ports.

It is the opinion of airports that more can be done to create complimentary plans, processes and procedures for managing risks and operational planning between the AFP and other stakeholders including airport operators. Effective information sharing, joint plans, actions, reporting and feedback will greatly add to the effectiveness of keeping Australians safe in an efficient manner.

Risk management within the context of the All-in policing model must drive resource allocation (staffing, funding etc.) and operational plans (tasks performed, campaigns entered into, performance reporting against set and agreed criteria etc.).

Currently much of the on-airport cooperation is based on individual relationships between people. These are not standardised and at times contain very little in the way of risk management, performance criteria, required actions or responses, sharing of information of complimentary actions or mutual considerations.

Airports would like to see increased stakeholder engagement, relationship management and information sharing. Increasing the quantity and quality of information sharing, both with airports about AFP concerns for their port, and influences of national trends were raised as critical next steps.

In the 2012 budget the federal government announced that from the beginning of the 2013 financial year it would start taxing for the community policing services provided at Australia’s 10 largest airports. The cost of this function incidentally is already recovered from travellers in other ways.

Apart from the fact that the implementation process of this tax failed to meet the government’s own standards, it also goes against the reasons set out by independent government reviews on policing at airports for the establishment of the current regime.

Australian airports currently have a positive, constructive and effective relationship with the AFP under the current policing model. We understand the importance of the role they play in providing a safe environment for our passengers, and to see this role undermined by the introduction of the proposed AFP tax is of serious concern to our airport members.