Mick Palmer AO APM

Mick Palmer AO, APM is a former police commissioner and barrister with extensive expertise in policing and public policy. After being admitted to the Queensland Bar as a Barrister, he appeared for many young people facing drug and possession charges before returning to policing for the next two decades.

He enjoyed almost 30 years’ service in the Northern Territory Police, including seven years as Commissioner of the NT Police Fire and Emergency Service agency (1988-1994), then served for almost seven years as Commissioner of the AFP (1994-2001). In 2004 Mick was appointed as the inaugural Federal Government’s ‘Inspector of Transport Security’ (a position created after the 9/11 and the Bali terrorist attacks) and served in this position until 2012.

Mick has conducted several inquiries for the Australian and for State Governments including the Inquiry into the Immigration Detention of Cornelia RAU, an Inquiry into the operations of Risdon Prison in Tasmania conducted for the State Government and a Victorian Prisons review conducted for the Victorian State Government.   

Mick is a board member of the NOFFS Foundation and has worked extensively on youth displacement, disadvantage, crime and drug use.

Mick joined the Penington Institute Board in 2024.