Federal police are being "starved to death" of sufficient funds and capability to tackle growing and complex issues such as victim-based crime, national security threats, narcotics trafficking and counter-terrorism.
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The federal police association, which represents around 6500 members working across Australia, internationally and in contracted law enforcement within the ACT, wants the Australian Federal Police split from the giant Home Affairs mega-portfolio and a national firearms register established under a range of reforms to be put before the major parties in the lead-up to the forthcoming federal election.
The association's national president Angela Smith said the steady leaching of funds away from the federal police is having a major impact on the morale and wellbeing of the members, with higher levels of psychological stress, depression and post-traumatic stress.
"National crime is rising dramatically across a range of offence types," Ms Smith said.
"The police commissioner has told us how illicit drug referrals have gone up by 300 per cent in the past three years, and victim-based crime is up by 200 per cent.
"The overall AFP budget went up slightly for 2018-19 to fund new programs but in real terms is still $220 million down on 2013-14 levels.
"Police are resilient by nature and well-practised at doing more with less. But what's happening is that as more programs are being added, such as aviation cargo security and child exploitation, others are being quietly shut down. You can only stretch people and resources so far."
After last month's Budget estimate hearings, the AFP reported that among the measures due soon for termination are the $17.6 million Keeping Illegal Guns off Our Streets program to target gang violence; the $5.3 million national cybercrime program and enhanced national protective security which cost $80.1 million in 2018-19.
Another key plank of the police reform package is the association's renewed push for a national firearms register.
"It's a national disgrace that in the 22 years since the Port Arthur massacre and all the good work that was done at that time to uncover illegal firearms, we still don't have a national register," Ms Smith said.
"Each state and territory has its own register and the sharing of information is clunky and problematic. We also need the tough NSW restrictions on the supply of ammunition to licence-holders adopted as a measure across the country.
"There are an estimated 3 million legal and illegal firearms in civilian hands in Australia, and people can buy and import ammunition for weapons they don't own. By restricting the access to ammunition, we reduce the firearms threat to police, and to the public."
