Portfolio

Minister for Home Affairs

In March 2021, Karen was elevated to the Home Affairs portfolio in the Morrison Government. The Home Affairs department works together with the Australian Federal Police, Australian Border Force, Australian Security Intelligence Organisation, Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission and the Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, to keep Australia safe.

Prior to that, Karen put Australian manufacturing back on the map as the Minister for Industry, Science and Technology. Her achievements in this portfolio included the $1.5 billion Modern Manufacturing Strategy, as well as the $160 million Manufacturing Modernisation Fund. She also guided the Australian Space Agency through its highly successful first year, and towards a goal of tripling the size of the sector to $12 billion and creating 20,000 new jobs by 2030.

To submit a query or comment regarding the Home Affairs portfolio, visit the Ministerial website.

Portfolio Media

View all 2022 2021 Industry, Science and Technology

JOINT MEDIA RELEASE – AUSTRALIA AND INDONESIA 8TH MINISTERIAL COUNCIL MEETING ON LAW AND SECURITY

Portfolio, 202123 December 2021

The 8th Australia-Indonesia Ministerial Council Meeting on Law and Security (MCM) occurred earlier today, co-chaired by Australian Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews and Indonesian Coordinating Minister for Political, Legal and Security Affairs, Mohammad Mahfud MD. At the 8th MCM, held in Jakarta, Ministers discussed several shared priorities, including countering terrorism and violent extremism, and…

FOUR YEARS KEEPING AUSTRALIA SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND UNITED

Portfolio, 202122 December 2021

Four years after the Coalition Government established the Home Affairs Portfolio in December 2017, the Morrison Government is continuing to keep Australians safe, safely reopen our international borders, and secure Australia’s economic recovery. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the Morrison Government has ensured the Home Affairs Portfolio can effectively anticipate, prevent, prepare, respond and…

Joint communique from the Hon Karen Andrews MP, Australian Minister for Home Affairs and the Hon Chamal Rajapaksa MP, Sri Lankan State Minister of Home Affairs

Portfolio, 202121 December 2021

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.…

AUSTRALIA AND SRI LANKA PARTNER TO BOOST BORDER SECURITY

Portfolio, 202121 December 2021

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…

United States and Australia Enter CLOUD Act Agreement to Facilitate Investigations of Serious Crime

Portfolio, 202116 December 2021

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…

VISIT TO THE UNITED STATES, SRI LANKA AND INDONESIA

Portfolio, 202115 December 2021

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…

CONSULTATION ON REFORMS TO ENHANCE THE SECURITY OF AUSTRALIA’S CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE

Portfolio, 202115 December 2021

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…

HIZBALLAH AND THE BASE LISTED AS TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS

Portfolio, 202110 December 2021

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…

APPOINTMENT OF THREE NEW AUSTRALIAN CRIMINAL INTELLIGENCE COMMISSION EXAMINERS PUTS FURTHER PRESSURE ON CRIMINAL NETWORKS

Portfolio, 202110 December 2021

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…

NDIS PROVIDER CHARGED OVER ALLEGED FRAUD

Portfolio, 20218 December 2021

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…

MODERNISATION OF AUSTRALIA’S ELECTRONIC SURVEILLANCE LAWS

Portfolio, 20216 December 2021

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…

MORRISON GOVERNMENT PASSES LAWS TO KEEP FEDERAL OFFENDERS BEHIND BARS

Portfolio, 20212 December 2021

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…

NEW SEMINARS SUPPORTING SMALL BUSINESSES TO BECOME MORE CYBER SECURE

Portfolio, 20212 December 2021

The Morrison Government is securing Australia’s economic recovery and safeguarding our digital future, rolling out from today a downloadable cyber security seminar for small and medium businesses across Australia. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews told attendees at a launch event in Canberra that malicious cyber activity against Australia’s national and economic interests is increasing,…

REVAMPED NATIONAL SECURITY WEBSITE LAUNCHED TO KEEP AUSTRALIANS SAFE AND PROTECT OUR WAY OF LIFE

Portfolio, 20211 December 2021

The Morrison Government is making it easier for Australians to protect themselves from terrorism and find information about what to do in a terrorist attack, unveiling today a significantly enhanced national security website. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said Australians couldn’t be complacent about the terrorist threat, and that recent tragic attacks in the…

JOINT RELEASE: PAUSE TO FURTHER EASING OF BORDER RESTRICTIONS

Portfolio, 202130 November 2021

On the basis of medical advice provided by the Chief Medical Officer of Australia, Professor Paul Kelly, the National Security Committee has taken the necessary and temporary decision to pause the next step to safely reopen Australia to international skilled and student cohorts, as well as humanitarian, working holiday maker and provisional family visa holders…