The president of the Australian Federal Police Association has resigned 18 months before the end of his term amid a Federal Court investigation of election processes.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
Long-time president Jon Hunt-Sharman served his final day on Friday and his resignation will be announced to AFPA members on Monday. He had held the position for nearly 20 years.
In a statement, AFPA chief executive Dennis Gellatly said the former president had saved the club from financial ruin and assisted many members of the police community through hard times.
"Mr Hunt-Sharman came into the association's most prominent job as one of the AFP's youngest promotions to detective sergeant and a successful investigator having worked with the NSW ICAC, major crime and other high level operations," he said.
"AFPA members, delegates and staff, thank Jon and wish him a warm farewell."
The association did not give an official reason for Mr Hunt-Sharman's resignation and the former president did not respond to calls from Fairfax Media.
Earlier this year, Mr Hunt-Sharman received life membership of the AFPA as one of the nation's longest continuously elected police association presidents. He was also recognised with a life membership of the Police Federation of Australia.
In September, Mr Gellatly called for a complete review of the union's operations after a botched election process saw some members sent incorrect ballot papers.
Documents lodged by the Australian Electoral Commissioner in the Federal Court show elections for the association's branch zone co-ordinator and workplace delegates were suspended on July 23 after errors were found in the roll of voters and the number of vacancies.
As a result, some association members did not receive the correct ballot papers and the elections were suspended.
The errors are understood to have originated in a move to a new database system, where some members were not placed in the correct zones.
The returning officer became aware of the errors just days after the close of nominations and acted to suspend the election after a string of correspondence with the AFPA.
A number of police officers who are members of the association are understood to have raised concerns after receiving incorrect ballot papers.
Some members are also understood to have broader concerns about the running of the association.
Mr Gellatly said the election irregularities would be thoroughly investigated.
"We were the ones who identified the irregularities, we notified the [Australian Electoral Commission] and have taken steps to ensure the problems are addressed," Mr Gellatly said.
"The cause of the Federal Court inquiry will be investigated, and we will co-operate fully."
The matter is set to return to court on November 14.
