On December 20, 2017, (Home Affairs Portfolio), Australia`s integrated internal affairs department, was officially established to head several agencies, including (Department of Home Affairs), the Department of Internal Affairs.
The Australian Federal Law Enforcement Agency, the National Traffic Safety Department, the Criminal Justice Department, the Emergency Management Department, the Multicultural Affairs Department, the Immigration and Border Protection Agency and other relevant agencies are all under the unified management of the integrated internal affairs department. Work together to ensure national security.
The website of the Immigration Service has now been renamed the Department of the Interior official website: https://www.homeaffairs.gov.au/.
Immigration website changed its name to the Home Affairs Department website. (screenshot of the Home Affairs Department website)
The website gives a brief introduction to the background, functions and organization of this super department.
Establishment background
Tan Bao is setting up a "super department". (AP Photo)
On July 18, 2017, Prime Minister Tam Po (Malcolm Turnbull) announced reforms in national security matters and intelligence deployments in response to the increasingly complex security situation facing Australia and the growing threat of terrorism and organized crime.
"in terms of national security, we have to be ahead of terrorism," he said at a news conference on July 18. This is the most significant change in intelligence and homeland security in Australia`s goverment40 in many years, and this restructuring will strengthen overall oversight and coordination of Australian intelligence, security, and law enforcement. "
Tan Bao also announced that a comprehensive internal affairs department and the Ministry of Internal Affairs will be formed as part of the reform.
Organizational framework
Dutton became Minister of Home Affairs. (photo by Sydney Morning Herald)
The integrated department of internal affairs will cover the existing police, intelligence, customs, immigration and other departments responsible for co-ordinating domestic counter-terrorism and other security matters, formulating strategic plans and coordinating the work of relevant departments in order to respond to the increasingly complex counter-terrorism situation. This "super" division will be run by former immigration minister Dudon (Peter Dutton).
According to reports, there are four institutions under the management of the integrated internal affairs department:
- Australian Border Enforcement Service (Australian Border Force, ABF)
- Australian Crime Intelligence Council (Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission, ACIC)
- Australian Federal Police Service (Australian Federal Police, AFP)
- Australian Trade reporting and Analysis Centre (Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre, AUSTRAC)
(Australian Security Intelligence Organisation), the Australian security intelligence agency, may be integrated into the internal affairs complex by early 2018, depending on the passage of legislation.
In addition, the integrated department of internal affairs also includes the Department of Internal Affairs. The Ministry of the Interior not only covers the functions of the Immigration and Border Protection Agency (Department of Immigration and Border Protection), but also empowers the following new functions:
- Homeland security and legal policy
- Emergency management (including crisis management, post-disaster reconstruction, etc.)
- Counter-terrorism policy and cooperation
- Network Security Policy and Cooperation
- Anti-foreign intervention
- Major Infrastructure Assurance
- Multicultural affairs
- Anti-violent extremism Program
- [交]traffic safety
The entire integrated department of internal affairs is expected to be fully completed in July 2018.
