Australian Police Commissioner to Present Five-Week Training Model at UN Summit Amid Budget Cuts

Australian Federal Police Commissioner Krissy Barrett will address the United Nations Chief of Police Summit in New York on Wednesday, Abc reported. Australia is hosting the summit for the first time. Barrett will argue that a training model used in the Pacific can prepare officers in five weeks instead of many months without lowering standards.

Abc reported that Barrett will state the approach is more affordable and sustainable for member states facing pressure on peacekeeping budgets. The United Nations cut its peacekeeping budget to $5.1 billion for 2026-27, a 10 per cent reduction. Last year the organisation reduced its global peacekeeping force by 25 per cent due to funding shortfalls.

Barrett will also meet FBI Director Kash Patel and NYPC Chief Jessica Tisch during the trip, Abc reported. She plans to discuss counter-terrorism cooperation and ways to elevate Australia's role in international policing. Australia trained 100 police officers from across the Pacific last year under its program.

A further 50 officers will begin training in late July, with another course set for early 2027. Barrett will seek support for PACPOL, a proposed Pacific policing bloc, Abc reported. Pacific Chiefs of Police will decide in October whether to form the body.

Barrett will say the group would let island police chiefs set collective priorities with one voice at global and regional forums. Abc reported that the Pacific currently lacks a specialised intergovernmental policing body for intelligence sharing. China and the Solomon Islands signed a bilateral security agreement in 2022 that allows Beijing to send police and armed forces.