Minister accused of using federal police for political purposes after senior members appear in video spruiking plan for officers with riflesLabor issues please explain after Peter Dutton appears with AFP in political ad on airport securityPeter Dutton has appeared alongside senior members of the Australian federal police in a political video spruiking the government’s plan to put officers with short-barrelled rifles in airports. A Labor spokesperson has called on Dutton to explain if it is “acceptable for him to use AFP officers in his personally authorised videos on social media” and questioned whether they might feel “used for political purposes”. “You’re right, it should reassure the members of the public who are travelling that we have a safe, secure aviation industry,” Henry said. “Members have not breached the AFP code of conduct through their involvement in this event,” he said. In March the Australian Federal Police Association – the union representing police – warned the AFP is losing its independence and integrity and must be separated from Dutton’s Home Affairs portfolio.

Source: The Guardian December 16, 2019 23:00 UTC