$255m boost to operation aegis and law enforcement to keep Australians safe

Attorney-General
Cabinet Secretary
The Hon Mark Dreyfus KC MP

Minister for Home Affairs
Minister for Cyber Security
The Hon Clare O’Neil MP

Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs
The Hon Andrew Giles MP

Joint media release

The Albanese Labor Government is providing our agencies with the resources they need to ensure the safety of the community following the High Court's decision in NZYQ v Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs & Anor.

The $255 million package announced today includes funding for Operation AEGIS – the joint Australian Federal Police / Australian Border Force operation established by the Department of Home Affairs. 

This includes around $150 million for the ABF to provide additional staff in compliance, investigations, removal and surveillance functions, and around $88 million for the AFP including funding for regional response teams and personnel to investigate breaches of visa conditions.

This package of funding will secure the ability of agencies to ensure individuals are abiding by visa conditions that apply to them, including curfews and wearing ankle monitors, and increase capacity to bring prosecutions against those who breach conditions through expanded funding for the Commonwealth Director of Public Prosecutions.

Quotes attributable to Minister for Home Affairs Clare O'Neil:

"We have only one priority and that is protecting the safety of the community within the limits of the law.

"This funding will ensure that our agencies are able to dedicate the time and resources that will be required to manage this cohort into the future. 

"We will continue to work with law enforcement and immigration agencies to make sure they have the resources they need to do this difficult work."

Quotes attributable to Minister for Immigration, Citizenship and Multicultural Affairs Andrew Giles:

"Peter Dutton and the Liberals continually slashed funding to Home Affairs and cut immigration compliance staff in half.

"In contrast, the Albanese Government is investing in our agencies to provide them with the tools they need to keep the community safe."

Quotes attributable to Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus:

"Every day, the AFP and the CDPP work tirelessly to enforce our laws and keep the Australian community safe.

The Albanese Government is committed to ensuring that, as part of Operation AEGIS, the AFP has the resources it needs to work with ABF and state and territory police forces to enforce the new laws enacted by the Parliament."