A contender for the coveted Defence Department top job says the government needs to quickly detail a case for creating a super-size Home Affairs department before the opposition destroys the idea.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
or signup to continue reading
Executive director at the Australian Strategic Policy Institute Peter Jennings, touted as one of the main figures who could replace Dennis Richardson at the helm of Defence, said the government had to outline how and why it will radically overhaul Australia's security, police and intelligence agencies.
"I don't think that the case has been as compelling as it could have been," he said.
A taskforce formed by the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet for the shake-up needed to release a discussion paper on the reasons and benefits of the government's plan to subsume ASIO, the Australian Federal Police, the Australian Border Force and other agencies into a Home Affairs department headed by Immigration Minister Peter Dutton.
After Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull announced the overhaul on Tuesday, questions have emerged about its impact on staff at the Immigration Department and the reasons for Australia to embark on the changes given the success of its security agencies in thwarting terrorism.
The reform was not recommended in an intelligence agencies review released by the government on Tuesday, has encountered push-back from the intelligence and security establishment, and it is understood leading moderates in the cabinet including Julie Bishop, Marise Payne, George Brandis and to a lesser extent, Christopher Pyne have resisted the idea.
Despite opposing the changes earlier this year, Mr Jennings on Wednesday said he now supported them partly because a Home Affairs department would be better placed to ward off emerging threats to cyber security and critical infrastructure.
However he believed the government's decision was a "line ball call".
"I'm confident the bureaucracy will make it work," he said.
"The right attitude is, if you're going to go down this track, let's make it a success."
Mr Dutton has argued the changes will protect against future threats to security and will better coordinate the efforts of security agencies.
He said the changes, as well as previous budget boosts to Defence and security agencies, were likely to see more public service jobs created over the forward estimates period.
"There will be job creation and there will be the opportunity for people to work in agencies that I think are cutting edge and world class.
"So yes, there is that opportunity there," he told the ABC.
The Community and Public Sector Union said it appeared the Immigration Department, including the Australian Border Force, was likely to be more affected than other agencies as it bedded down its recent merger with the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service.
"People working in these areas are understandably worried about job losses and further disruption to their important work," the union said.
