Australia’s Minister for Home Affairs, the Hon Karen Andrews MP, paid a visit to Colombo, Sri Lanka, from 18 to 21 December 2021, on the eve of the 75th anniversary of bilateral relations in 2022. Minister Andrews called on the President of Sri Lanka, His Excellency Gotabaya Rajapaksa, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, Prof G.…
The Australian and Sri Lankan Governments have once again partnered to enhance regional border security, today opening the Sri Lankan Border Risk Assessment Centre (BRAC) at the Department of Immigration and Emigration, near Colombo. The BRAC is a new intelligence facility directly under the Ministry of Defence which will allow Sri Lankan agencies to share…
The United States and Australia today signed a landmark agreement that will facilitate access to electronic data for investigations of serious crime, including terrorism and child sexual abuse. The agreement is authorized by the Clarifying Lawful Overseas Use of Data (CLOUD) Act, a bill Congress passed in 2018. The CLOUD Act Agreement will help ensure…
I will visit the United States of America, Sri Lanka and Indonesia to strengthen Australia’s ties with these close partners and further progress our cooperation on strategic issues of shared interest. In the United States, I will meet with a range of senior officials and law enforcement partners to discuss and deepen our collaboration, particularly…
The Morrison Government has commenced public consultation on proposed legislation designed to enhance the resilience of Australia’s critical infrastructure to security risks, including cyber-attacks. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said two concurrent public consultations were now underway as part of the Morrison Government’s commitment to engage with stakeholders, industry experts and the broader Australian…
Australia now lists 27 terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code, with the entirety of Hizballah and neo-Nazi group The Base today formally added to the national terrorist listing. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the Morrison Government would continue to list groups that used violence in pursuit of political, ideological or religious objectives. “Terrorism…
The Morrison Government continues to pursue serious organised crime gangs, today announcing the appointment of three new full‑time examiners for the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC), bringing the total number of ACIC examiners to six. Based throughout Australia, ACIC examiners are independent statutory officers appointed by the Governor-General to exercise coercive powers in the context…
Last week the Australian Federal Police (AFP) executed search warrants across three premises on the Sunshine Coast, following an investigation by the National Disability Insurance Agency (NDIA) fraud team – with support from Services Australia, the NDIS Quality and Safeguards Commission and the Queensland Police Service. A 36-year-old Caloundra woman, listed as a director of…
The Morrison Government is committed to modernising Australia’s electronic surveillance laws and arrangements, as part of a major reform project to streamline and modernise Australia’s national security legislation. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews today released a public discussion paper, Reform of Australia’s electronic surveillance framework, in line with the Morrison Government’s long-standing commitment to…
The Morrison Government welcomes the passage of the Crimes Amendment (Remissions of Sentences) Bill 2021. Attorney-General Michaelia Cash said: “the Morrison Government’s highest priority is to keep Australians safe”. “This bill addresses the significant risks to community safety as a result of remissions being granted to federal offenders under state and territory laws.” During the…