I am pleased to announce the reappointment of Reece Kershaw APM as Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police (AFP) for a period of two years to October 2026.
Commissioner Kershaw has made an extraordinary contribution to our community with a policing career spanning more than 30 years. His contribution to law enforcement in Australia reflects the highest standards of the AFP values of integrity, commitment, excellence, accountability, fairness, trust and respect.
As Australia’s national policing agency enforcing Commonwealth law, the AFP’s mission of ‘policing for a safer Australia’ has never been more important.
The AFP’s expertise and partnerships have been instrumental in disrupting some of the most significant criminal activity we have seen in recent times and play a pivotal role in fostering safety and security both within Australia and across the world. The AFP’s relationships with regional partners are critical to the Government’s broader efforts to safeguard Australians through contributing to the overall stability of the Indo-Pacific region.
Commissioner Kershaw’s experience and demonstrated leadership means the AFP is in safe hands while navigating the ever changing and challenging law enforcement landscape.
I also congratulate Mr Ian McCartney on his reappointment as Deputy Commissioner of the AFP for a period of two years. This continuity in leadership provides certainty and stability for the AFP during a time when its role in protecting Australians has never been more critical.
These reappointments follow the recent appointment of two new AFP Deputy Commissioners – Krissy Barrett and Scott Lee. Deputy Commissioner Barrett’s appointment means the AFP has two female sworn Deputy Commissioners for the first time.
The task of responding to increasingly challenging and sophisticated criminal activity across areas of cybercrime, money-laundering, terrorism and child exploitation requires a sophisticated and world-class police force.
The Albanese Government has the upmost confidence in our police and is committed to supporting the AFP as they work every day to protect our community.
Under Commissioner Kershaw and his senior leadership team, the AFP is in the best position to continue building upon its important partnerships and capabilities to keep Australians safe from harm.
Biography
Commissioner Kershaw joined the AFP in 1988 and completed secondments to the National Crime Authority and the Australian Crime Commission, and overseas postings to The Hague, East Timor and Solomon Islands. In 2011, Commissioner Kershaw moved to the Northern Territory where he served as Assistant Commissioner Crime & Specialist Services and Darwin Metropolitan Service in the Northern Territory Police Force. In 2015 he was appointed Commissioner of Police and Chief Executive Officer of the Northern Territory Police, Fire and Emergency Services. From 2021-2023 Commissioner Kershaw served as chair of the Five Eyes Law Enforcement Group.
Commissioner Kershaw is a graduate of the Australian Institute of Police Management, the Federal Bureau of Investigation Law Enforcement Executive Development Program and the Australian Institute of Company Directors. He was awarded the Australian Police Medal in the 2016 Australia Day Honours.
