Back in July the Prime Minister announced reforms to Australia’s national security and intelligence arrangements. These reforms involved establishing a Department of Home Affairs. This department is to be a central policy agency, providing coordinated strategy and policy leadership for Australia’s national and transport security, federal law enforcement, criminal justice, cyber security, customs, border, immigration, multicultural affairs, emergency management and trade related functions.
The Department of Home Affairs includes the entirety of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. It also includes national security, emergency management and criminal justice functions from the Attorney-General’s Department; the Office of Transport Security from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development; multicultural affairs from the Department of Social Services; and the counter-terrorism coordination and cyber security policy functions from the Department of the Prime Minister and Cabinet.
The establishment of the Portfolio brings together Australia’s federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs, Customs and Immigration and border-related functions and agencies, working together to keep Australia safe.
There are four operational agencies and bodies that have transitioned to the Portfolio:
ï‚· Australian Border Force (ABF)
ï‚· Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC)
ï‚· Australian Federal Police (AFP)
ï‚· the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC).
+ The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO) will join the Portfolio following the passage of legislation.
The Portfolio will be supported by a new Department of Home Affairs, formed by the former Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP), and relevant elements of the Attorney-General’s Department (security, law enforcement policy and emergency management), the Department of Prime Minister and Cabinet (counter-terrorism and cyber security policy), the Department of Social Services (multicultural affairs), and the Office of Transport Security from the Department of Infrastructure and Regional Development.
The new Department will focus on the development and execution of strategy, policy and coordination in addition to the programmatic functions it will undertake either in lead or support of other agencies. It will continue to deliver the full spectrum of visa and citizenship services previously undertaken by DIBP.
