Australian Federal Police
AFP
19 October 1979 – present
Previously Commonwealth Police Force (1960–1979).
The national police force, enforcing Commonwealth criminal law and protecting Commonwealth interests in Australia and overseas, including counter-terrorism, organised crime, cyber crime, protective security and international policing. It also provides community policing to the Australian Capital Territory and external territories.
Names over time
- Commonwealth Police Force1960–1979
- Australian Federal Police1979–present
How it came into existence
Began operations on 19 October 1979 under the Australian Federal Police Act 1979, which continued the Commonwealth Police Force established under the Commonwealth Police Act 1957 and merged into it the Australian Capital Territory Police; the drug law enforcement role of the Narcotics Bureau also passed to it in 1979. The amalgamation followed Sir Robert Mark's 1978 report on Commonwealth policing after the Hilton Hotel bombing.
- Investigation of Commonwealth offences
- Protective security
The Australian Federal Police Act 1979 continued the Commonwealth Police Force in existence under the new name.
- Policing of the Australian Capital Territory
- Drug law enforcement
The bureau was disbanded in 1979 and its drug investigation role passed to the AFP.
Legislation: Australian Federal Police Act 1979
Changes during its life
- 11 March 1983Moved from the Administrative Services portfolio to the portfolio of the Special Minister of State.
- 24 July 1987Moved to the Attorney-General's portfolio.
- 11 May 1989With ACT self-government, the AFP continued to police the Australian Capital Territory, later under a purchase arrangement with the ACT Government (ACT Policing).
- 20 December 2017Moved to the new Home Affairs portfolio.
- Protective security and guarding services
- Protective security and guarding services
- Coordination of civil coastal surveillance
The AFP's Coastal Protection Unit had coordinated civil coastal surveillance before 1988.
- Cyber crime investigation
Staff were co-located in the centre; the agency kept its own responsibilities.
Main functions
- Investigation of offences against Commonwealth law
- Counter-terrorism and national security policing
- Drug and organised crime investigation
- Protective security of dignitaries and Commonwealth establishments
- Community policing of the ACT and external territories
- International police cooperation and peacekeeping
Where it sits
In the portfolio of Department of Home Affairs.
- Type of body
- Non-corporate Commonwealth entity
- Portfolio
- Home Affairs
- Accountable authority
- Commissioner of Police – Australian Federal Police Act 1979 section 6(2)(b)
- ABN
- 17 864 931 143
Lineage
Loading lineage…
Sources
Primary sources
- List of Commonwealth entities and companies under the PGPA Act, 1 July 2026 (Department of Finance)
- Australian Government Organisations Register (Department of Finance, data.gov.au) (listed from 11 December 2014 to the latest release (30 June 2026))