Damon Mcknight
Australia has been accused of attempting to turn the Solomon Islands into a police state. In 2024, the Australian government announced it was providing the Solomon Islands with $190 million to grow the size and capability of their police force. Some have argued that Australia is attempting to 'own' policing in the Pacific and that this move is an attempt to outcompete China's influence in the region. However, there are concerns that Australia's actions could lead to unwarranted interference and the creation of a police state. Additionally, there have been criticisms of Australia's own policing practices, with accusations of further radicalizing an autistic 13-year-old boy with a fixation on the Islamic State, and the Australian Federal Police making national and state firsts in a challenging year.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Police salaries | Trainee officers in Tasmania are paid a base salary of $58,253. First-year constables in South Australia are offered a starting salary of $77,128. First-year constables in Queensland are paid $87,509 per year. |
| Police raids and arrests | Counterterrorism police in Western Australia have conducted a series of raids and arrests aimed at climate-related protesters. |
| Police powers | In NSW, police have been given additional powers to move on protesters near places of worship and threaten conduct that could be construed as harassment or intimidation of worshippers with up to two years in jail. Victoria has proposed a crackdown on dissent, banning the use of face masks at protests, allowing police to seize "attachment devices" such as glue and ropes, and permitting "no protest" zones around places of worship. |
| Police enforcement | The Australian Federal Police enforce the laws of the Commonwealth, both criminal and civil, and protect the interests of the Commonwealth domestically and internationally. |
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What You'll Learn
Australia's most explicit petro-state
Australia is a major producer and importer of petroleum, with Western Australia being the largest contributor to the country's production of most petroleum products. The country's first oil discovery was made near Lakes Entrance, Victoria in 1924. The industry in Western Australia involves extracting crude oil, condensate, and natural gas from petroleum reservoirs deep beneath the Earth's surface. In 2007, the industry produced 126 million barrels of crude oil/condensate and 30 billion cubic meters of gas.
The petroleum sector in Australia is dominated by international companies, including Apache, BHP, Chevron, ConocoPhillips, ExxonMobil, Santos, Shell, and Woodside. Over 80% of Australia's gas reserves and over 95% of its oil reserves are offshore, concentrated in the Bonaparte, Browse, Carnarvon, and Gippsland basins. The Carnarvon Basin, which stretches for 1,000 km along the west and northwest coast, is the primary source of petroleum in Western Australia.
The retail downstream business in Australia is dominated by Ampol, which had 1,900 stores across the country as of October 2022, including 540 stations co-branded and operated by EG Australia. Australia's largest petroleum refinery, located in Kwinana, closed in 2021. The country has struggled with energy security, relying heavily on foreign oil and fuel-inefficient cars, and lacking mandatory vehicle fuel efficiency standards. This has left the country vulnerable to volatile swings in oil prices and exposed to the whims of petro-states such as Russia.
Australia's energy security has been described as a "debacle," with the government's unwillingness to reduce the country's dependence on foreign fuel and lack of support for electric vehicles contributing to the issue. The country has signed bilateral agreements with the United States to access oil reserves, but these reserves remain vulnerable to the decisions of individual petro-states. Australia's approach to energy security highlights the country's explicit reliance on the petroleum industry and the need for improved physical and economic energy security measures.
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Preemptive policing of protests
Australia has ratified the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR), which includes the right to freedom of peaceful assembly and expression. However, human rights organisations have observed that the rights of protesters in Australia have been violated in many protest situations.
In mid-2023, the South Australian government passed harsh anti-protest laws. This was followed by Victoria's proposal to ban the use of face masks at protests, create "no-protest" zones around places of worship, and allow police to seize "attachment devices" such as glue and chains. New South Wales (NSW) also passed new laws restricting the right to protest, giving police additional powers to move on protesters near places of worship and threatening conduct that could be construed as harassment or intimidation with up to two years in jail.
In Australia's Western Australia, there have been a series of raids and arrests by counterterrorism police aimed at climate-related protesters. Tasmania passed harsher penalties for protesters in 2022, and Tasmania-based protester Colette Harmsen served three months in prison. The rate at which people who protest are sentenced to imprisonment after engaging in peaceful protest is intensifying in Australia.
The Police Accountability Project has expressed concern over police move-on powers and the increasing use of force by police officers during protests. Amnesty International has stated that exceptional circumstances, such as a state of emergency, do not justify any departure from basic human rights standards for law enforcement officials.
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Increased militarisation of police forces
Australia has seen an increased militarisation of its police forces in recent years, with some arguing that this development undermines democratic ideals. A key marker of militarisation is the establishment of paramilitary groups within police organisations, which have close ties to military special forces and employ military-style weapons that are not available to regular police. In Australia, police paramilitary units are similar to the Australian Defence Force SAS. Originally, these groups were justified as a necessary counter-terrorism measure, but their activities have since expanded into a wide range of everyday police operations. The ethos, culture, training, weapons, tactics, and equipment of these paramilitary units have also influenced other non-specialist areas of policing.
Another indicator of militarisation is the adoption of military-style uniforms, equipment, language, and tactics by police forces. Darker police uniforms, such as black clothing, combined with tactical vests and equipment, can intimidate citizens and damage the perception of police as a protective service. The integration of military veterans into police forces, along with joint training and operations, further blurs the line between the police and the military.
The "wars" on terror, drugs, and refugees have contributed to this shift by framing social, economic, and political issues as criminal problems, with national security concerns taking precedence over human rights. Police organisations often promote the "war on crime" rhetoric to gain support for expanded powers, larger budgets, and greater latitude to use force.
In Australia, concerns have been raised about frontline and specialist police teams adopting military-style tactics and thinking. The national counterterrorism funding program provides military equipment to civilian police forces, and while this equipment is intended for counterterrorism activities, it is not limited to them. This mirrors the US Department of Defense's 1033 program, which has been associated with increased fatalities from officer-involved shootings and the use of military tactics by police.
The increased militarisation of police forces raises questions about the role of police in a democratic society. The erosion of trust between communities and police, as seen in the aftermath of the George Floyd protests, underscores the importance of police accountability and the need for community support in policing.
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State police salaries
Australia has state police forces as well as a federal police force. The salary of police officers in Australia varies from state to state.
In New South Wales (NSW), police officers are offered the highest wage in the country. A probationary constable in NSW will see their salary increase from $81,517 to $84,777, and by 2027, it will rise to $97,206.
In Victoria, first constable officers are paid a base salary of $82,728 (plus allowances).
Western Australia also offers competitive salaries to its police officers, with probationary constables earning $83,544 for the first 18 months, and $86,096 in their third year.
In Queensland, the starting salary for a first-year constable is $87,509 per year.
In South Australia, police officers are offered a starting salary of $77,128 for a first-year constable, with a maximum pay of $92,259 before promotion to senior constable.
Tasmania Police officers have the lowest salaries in Australia. A trainee officer is paid a base salary of $58,253, which increases to $69,298 (plus 24% if working on a 24-hour roster) for a level one officer or constable.
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) have jurisdiction across state borders and work alongside state police forces on investigations. For example, the AFP worked with the South Australia Police in 2020 to seize illicit drugs and arrest offenders, and with the New South Wales Police in 2024 to charge a man with possessing a child-like sex doll.
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Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police (AFP) was formed on 19 October 1979 through the merging of the former Commonwealth Police and the Australian Capital Territory Police. The AFP is responsible for delivering community policing services in the Australian Capital Territory and other dependent territories. They also provide protective security in major airports and close protection for dignitaries, including the Prime Minister of Australia and foreign diplomatic missions.
The AFP works to stop the supply of illegal drugs to Australia and detects and disrupts anyone who imports or exports border-controlled drugs. They also combat serious and organised crime, including child exploitation, drug importation, and fraud, to protect the physical and financial security of Australia. For example, in 2020, the AFP's Central Command seized 232.84 kilograms of illicit drugs and charged 21 offenders with 51 offences across a range of crime types.
The AFP plays a lead role in protecting Australians from terrorism and investigates threats, violence, and hatred towards the Australian Jewish community and parliamentarians. They also investigate the possession and use of illegal firearms and weapons in Australia.
The AFP is a member of the National Intelligence Community and works closely with other agencies, such as the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation and the Australian Border Force. The AFP is responsible to the Attorney-General's Department, and key priorities are set by the Attorney-General through a "ministerial direction".
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Frequently asked questions
No, but there have been claims that Australia is vying with China to turn the Solomon Islands into a police state.
A police state is a country or state where the government exercises strict control over the citizens' social and political behaviour, especially through the use of a strong police force.
In 2024, Australia announced it was giving the Solomon Islands AUS$190 million to "grow the size and capability of the Royal Solomon Islands Police Force (RSIPF)".
There is no evidence that the Solomon Islands government responded directly to Australia's announcement. However, the Tuvaluan Prime Minister who signed a similar deal with Australia was voted out in the next election.
The Australian government argues that if they don't provide policing in the Solomon Islands, the Chinese will.
