[1] Peter McAulay at the age of 13 was Assistant Paymaster for General Motors Holden.
He was made inspector in 1966, and in 1968 served in United Nations Peacekeeping Force in Cyprus (UNFICYP), ultimately acting as police advisor there in 1970, and leading a contingent of a multi-national police force.
He returned to the South Australian Police in 1972 and held executive roles, ultimately being promoted to Detective Chief Superintendent.
On 13 October 1978 he was appointed Commissioner of the Northern Territory Police.
He was appointed Commissioner of the Australian Federal Police in February 1988, and retired in June 1994.