AN AUSTRALIAN Federal Police (AFP) delegation visited RAAF Base Amberley recently to talk about working on building security.
Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough and a senior leadership team toured the Base Defence Section, with 6 Squadron involved in discussions with police personnel.
Commanding Officer 6 Squadron Wing Commander Steven Thornton represented Amberley Base with the aim of “safeguarding the national interest the two organisations uphold”.
The two-day visit was attended by Northern Command superintendents and commanders in what they said would strengthen team cohesion, foster leadership development and establish common goals.
The Northern Command encompasses distinct portfolios that include investigations as well as operations and support.
It also plays a vital role in national security, not only in Australia but further afield in the Pacific.
“One of the primary objectives of the visit was to cultivate a sense of shared mission and cooperation in support of the government’s security goals for Australia and the Pacific,” Assistant Commissioner Gough said.
“By forging close ties with the RAAF, the police aim to leverage the strengths and expertise of both organisations and enhance our collective capabilities to address security challenges.
“The RAAF, with its wealth of experience and abundant resources, serves as a strategic partner that is capable of significantly augmenting our efforts to safeguard our nation and the broader Pacific.”
A significant component of the visit was devoted to strategies for teamwork and bringing out the best in people.
Officer Commanding 95 Wing Group Captain Kylie Green said 95 Wing’s role was to deliver combat support at short notice to help sustain overseas power.
“Our relationship with the police is increasingly important as we focus on our shared security objectives for Australia and for our region,” Group Captain Green said.
“We are seeing significant benefit from joint training opportunities in explosive ordnance detection and destruction, as well as intelligence sharing and emergency response operations.”
Assistant Commissioner Justine Gough joined the Australian Federal Police in 1990 and was posted to its Sydney office.
In 2015, she was deployed as the Senior Liaison Officer in Hong Kong.
She was selected to establish and lead Cyber Command in late 2021.
In June, soldiers and police force members took part in Exercise Arras to strengthen cooperation and coordination of roles in a simulated response to a domestic emergency.
The 9th Battalion, Royal Queensland Regiment soldiers attended the Bob Atkinson Operational Capabilities Centre at Wacol to observe their training and learn about the differences between police and Defence techniques.
