Department of Home Affairs - A stronger, safer and secure Australia (NNF 2017/296)

The Turnbull Government has introduced legislation to enable the most significant reforms to Australia's domestic security arrangements in decades.

Earlier this year, the Prime Minister announced the Government would establish a Home Affairs portfolio of Australia's security, law enforcement and criminal intelligence agencies, and strengthen the Attorney-General's oversight of these institutions.

The Home Affairs portfolio is a direct response to the increasingly complex and challenging security environment facing our country.

Click READ MORE to view the joint Media Release from Malcolm Turnbull, Prime Minister and the Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.

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CBFCA Comments:

At the recent CBFCA National Conference at the Gold Coast the Australian Border Force (ABF) acting Commissioner Mr. Michael Outram said the impending creation of the Department of Home Affairs would not detract from the ABF’s role as customs facilitator, but would in fact enhance it.

The establishment of the new Department was undoubtedly on many people’s minds.

“There’s been some speculation in the media and some academic circles and in the industry that the ABF might somehow lose its operational customs functions,” he said.

“I want to take the opportunity today to assure you that any sort of notions that we’re going to start focusing on compliance and enforcement to the cost of our service facilitation in customs services is far from the truth.”

Mr Outram expects the Department to increase the engagement with the ABF’s law enforcement and intelligence partners. He said the more information, the more consistent data is available to the ABF, the easier its officers can connect consignments to known criminals.

“And that will enhance, rather than detract from our role as Australia’s customs service.”

The Department—including its operational law enforcement arm, the Australian Border Force—and before it, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service, has a long-standing relationship with the CBFCA. It has been a strong, consultative and collaborative relationship, and we look forward to it continuing well into the future.

Zoran Kostadinoski
Regional Manager VIC / TAS / SA