News Flash

Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) overtaken by new Department of Home Affairs (

22-Feb-2018

Businesses, visa applicants and visa holders should note that the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP) no longer exists – since 20 December 2017.  It has been subsumed under the newly created Department of Home Affairs (DHA).

The establishment of new portfolios and departments always entails some significant shift in policy focus, and this time is no different.

While the DHA incorporates the full range of functions previously undertaken by the DIBP, it will also absorb the functions of several national security and intelligence agencies, including the:

• Australian Border Force (ABF);
• Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission (ACIC);
• Australian Federal Police (AFP);
• Australian Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (AUSTRAC); and
• subject to passage of legislation, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO).

The government has stated that this change “brings together Australia's federal law enforcement, national and transport security, criminal justice, emergency management, multicultural affairs and immigration and border-related functions and agencies, working together to keep Australia safe.”

In a way, the change reflects the government’s drift towards making the criteria for obtaining visas more stringent: stronger compliance and criminal record checks, increased legal obligations on partner and business sponsors, and tougher penalties for visa applicants who provide false or misleading information. Housing Australia’s immigration and national security apparatuses under the one roof would theoretically make carrying out such checks and law enforcement functions more efficient.

An interim organisational structure for the DHA is currently in place while further details are being finalised. It is expected the portfolio will be fully established by July 2018.

Source: Department of Home Affairs