LEGISLATION TO COMBAT MOBILE PHONE CRIME IN AUSTRALIA’S PRISONS

The Morrison Government has today introduced into Parliament new legislation to assist state and territory corrective services authorities identify, investigate and prevent illegal mobile phone criminal activity in Australia’s prisons. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said it is vital for prison authorities to have the powers they need to uncover illicit mobile phones and…

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EIGHT TERRORIST ORGANISATIONS TO BE LISTED UNDER THE CRIMINAL CODE

The Morrison Government has today listed Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham, Hurras al-Din and the National Socialist Order as terrorist organisations under the Criminal Code and intends to list the entirety of Hamas. The Government has also re-listed Abu Sayyaf Group, al-Qa’ida, al-Qa’ida in the Lands of the Islamic Maghreb and Jemaah Islamiyah as terrorist organisations under the…

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CRITICAL INFRASTRUCTURE REFORMS WILL PROTECT AUSTRALIA’S CRITICAL SERVICES

The Morrison Government has today introduced into Parliament the second stage of the Australian Government’s critical infrastructure reform package. The Security Legislation Amendment (Critical Infrastructure Protection) Bill will better protect Australia’s critical infrastructure and the essential services all Australians rely on from cyber-attacks – everything from our electricity and water, to health and medical care,…

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REOPENING TO TOURISTS AND OTHER INTERNATIONAL TRAVELLERS TO SECURE OUR ECONOMIC RECOVERY

Australia will reopen to all fully vaccinated visa holders, welcoming the return of tourists, business travellers, and other visitors from 21 February. These changes will ensure we protect the health of Australians, while we continue to secure our economic recovery. Australia’s health system has demonstrated its resilience throughout the COVID-19 pandemic, including though the recent…

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SIX OF AUSTRALIA’S BEST DETECTOR DOG GRADUATES HEAD OVERSEAS TO ENHANCE REGIONAL BORDER SECURITY

Australia today says ‘sayonara’ to six of its best detector dog graduates, as they depart overseas for a career with Japan Customs, once again demonstrating the Australian Government’s cutting-edge border protection arrangements on the world stage. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews, herself a patron of the Australian Border Force’s Detector Dog Program (ABF DDP),…

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NEW COMMANDER FOR OPERATION SOVEREIGN BORDERS

From today, the Australian Government’s strong border protection measures under Operation Sovereign Borders will be led by Rear Admiral Justin Jones CSC, RAN, ensuring continuity of the successful border policies that have saved lives at sea since 2013 and ended maritime people smuggling to Australia. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews welcomed Rear Admiral Jones…

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SURRENDER YOUR ILLEGAL GUN OR FACE THE CONSEQUENCES

The Morrison Government has partnered with Crime Stoppers Australia for this year’s National Illicit Firearms Campaign, keeping Australians safe by removing illegal guns from the community. During the three-month campaign, a range of community engagement and promotional events in regional and metropolitan communities across Australia will encourage people to share what they know about illegal…

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SIGNIFICANT NEW INVESTMENT TO COUNTER ALL FORMS OF VIOLENT EXTREMISM IN AUSTRALIA

The Morrison Government is investing an additional $61.7 million into Australia’s countering violent extremism (CVE) programs, keeping Australians safe from the full range of violent extremist ideologies and nearly doubling the total investment in CVE since such initiatives began in 2013. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews said the Government’s CVE programs had delivered strong…

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SAFEGUARDING THE INTEGRITY OF AUSTRALIA’S AVIATION AND MARITIME SECTORS

The Morrison Government will today commence consultation on important reform to make Australia’s airports, wharves, runways and dockyards more secure. The reform – to be co-designed with industry – will see the Department of Home Affairs become the sole issuing authority for aviation and maritime security identification cards (ASICs and MSICs) – which are an…

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AUSTRALIA’S BORDER RULES APPLY TO EVERYONE

Any individual seeking to enter Australia must comply with our strict border requirements. While the Victorian Government and Tennis Australia may permit a non-vaccinated player to compete in the Australian Open, it is the Commonwealth Government that will enforce our requirements at the Australian border. Since 15 December 2021 fully vaccinated eligible visa holders can…

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STATEMENT ON CHARGES LAID FOR ALLEGED INVOLVEMENT IN FIRE AT OLD PARLIAMENT HOUSE

Today’s announcement by the Australian Federal Police (AFP) and ACT Police that an individual has been charged following their alleged involvement in criminal damage to Old Parliament House demonstrates the Morrison Government’s commitment to the rule of law and to safeguarding Australia’s long-cherished democratic processes, traditions and institutions. Minister for Home Affairs Karen Andrews thanked…

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

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…

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FOUR YEARS KEEPING AUSTRALIA SAFE, PROSPEROUS AND UNITED

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…

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