Tamerra Mackell Pictures: Tony Negus Australian Top Cop Scandal

Picture: Tamerra Mackell

One of Australia's top security officials, Tony Negus, is under fire for takin a football cheerleader, Tamerra Mackell, on official trips as his assistant.

Media said former Newcastle Nights Cheerleader Tamerra Mackell took several pverseas trips with the head of the Australian Federal Police.

Questions were raised as to why Tamerra Mackell would travel with the APF head to important south Asia destination when the previous AFP boss travelled with a uniformed Australian police member.

News reports said Tamerra Mackell went with Mr Negus on trips to Indonesia, Thailand, India and Singapore as his "assistant".

News Corp Journalist Vanda Carson wrote: "It is unusual for secretaries such as Ms Mackell to travel overseas for work. The executive assistant to Mr Negus' predecessor, Mick Keelty, did not often travel with him."

"Mr Keelty usually travelled with a "staff officer" - a uniformed AFP officer who is a member of the Senior Executive Service, the highest ranks of the public service."