The creation of the Australia Police followed the tabling in
Parliament on 20 February 1975 of a report by Mr A.T. Carmody, later the first Secretary of the Department of Police and Customs. The report called for the unification of all Commonwealth law enforcement and investigative agencies under a central body bearing the title of the Australia Police Force.
The Department of Police and Customs (CA 1862) was created on 27 March 1975 (Australian Government Gazette No. S 59, 27 Mar. 1951 p.1) and the new Australia Police came into existence on that day. Mr J.M. Davies, former Commissioner of the Commonwealth Police Force [II] (CA 736), was confirmed as interim Chief Commissioner of the Australian Police on 8 April 1975. In his "Annual Report of the Commissioner of Police, Year ended 30 June 1975" (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper No. 237 of 1976. p.3) he noted that "the Australia Police Bill is expected to go before Parliament later in the year. Administratively the organisation is currently operational, however, for it to become a legal entity the passage of the Bill through the Parliament is required". This Bill was first delayed and then withdrawn following the defeat of the Labor Government in December 1975.
Speaking on 12 May 1975, the Attorney-General and Minister for Police and Customs, Mr Enderby, described the Australia Police as being "in substance nothing more than the integration of the existing ACT, NT and Commonwealth Police with the Departments of Customs investigative sections under a new name (Canberra Times, 13 May 1975 p.3). A Departmental Circular of 8 April 1975 lists four elements of the Australia Police as being the ACT and Northern Territory Police, both operationally separate with Commissioners responsible for all police functions in their regions; the Australian Bureau of Investigation - "a highly trained service to investigate serious crime", and an Operations element of uniformed members.
The "Annual Report of the Commissioner" (Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper No. 237 of 1976, p.3) supplied the following information about the Australia Police: "The Force comprises three separate branches, a Plain clothes Branch, Protective Services Branch and the Airport Police Branch, served by a support unit of officers of the Force are the Commissioner and the three Assistant Commissioners - Crime, Intelligence and Operations. They are also members of the Commonwealth Public Service. Members of the Plainclothes Branch are fundamentally engaged in investigating breaches of Commonwealth law. Additionally, they are required to join State and other officials responsible for the protection of Royalty and other dignitaries visiting Australia. The Branch also provides advance security liaison for, and accompanies, the Prime Minister on visits within Australia and abroad. The Protective Services Branch is responsible for the protection and security of nominated Commonwealth properties and services, the manning of prohibited immigrant centres and for minor
enquiries and bailiff duties in certain Australian Territories. Members of the Airport Police Branch are stationed at Australia's major domestic and international airports to maintain Law and Order".
The Australia Police received the Federal Narcotics Bureau and the Detection area of the Detection and Prevention function from the former Department of Customs and Excise (CA 62). In the new
Department of Police and Customs it shared with the Bureau of Customs a Joint Services Division, which provided service functions and had three elements: ADP and Technical; Intelligence and Services; Management and Services.
On 14 September 1975, the Public Service Board approved the senior administrative structure of the Department of Police and Customs, which was to incorporate the recommendations of the Law Reform Commission and the desire of the Labor government to "build into
the new system proper and better safeguards for the rights of the individual" (Sydney Morning Herald, 29 Mar. 1975, p.3)
On 22 December 1975 the Department of Police and Customs was
abolished (Australian Government Gazette, No. S262, 22 Dec 1975, p.1) and the restructuring of the Commonwealth police agencies into the Australia Police lapsed. Its components were split, the Narcotics Bureau passing to the Department of Business and Consumer Affairs (CA 1951) and former elements of the Commonwealth Police Force [II] becoming the Commonwealth Police Force [III] (CA 2083) under the Department of Administrative Services [II] (CA 1964). The personnel, operation and internal structure of the Australia Police are subject to further research.
The Australia Police was replaced by the Commonwealth Police Force [III] (CA 2083).
References:
1. "Report by the Law Reform Commission: Complaints against Police, Report No. 1 "Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No. 168 of 1975 "Report by the Law Reform Commission: Criminal Investigation, Report No. 2 "Commonwealth Parliamentary Paper, No. 280 of 1975
Historical agency address
49 Jardine Street, Kingston ACT
Subsequent agency unregistered
ACT Police Force [II] (subject to further research)