Joint media release with the Hon Clare O'Neil MP
The Albanese Labor Government is investing in a safer, secure and more resilient Australia, delivering $1.2 billion in additional funding into programs, initiatives and coordinated responses through the Department of Home Affairs and the Australian Border Force.
Securing the borders and ensuring community safety
The Albanese Government is delivering additional funding in the 2024-25 Budget to protect the integrity of Australia's borders and ensure the safety of the community.
This includes a $569.4 million boost to the capabilities that underpin the safety and security of our borders, including a significant investment in boats, planes and autonomous vehicles for Operation Sovereign Borders and Australia's civil maritime operations. This additional funding means the Albanese Government is delivering $1.31 billion more than the former government had promised for border protection. As the Australian Border Force Commissioner has said, "Border Force funding is currently the highest it's been since its establishment".
The Albanese Government is also committing $71.6 million to combat the growing threat of foreign interference and espionage in Australia by making permanent the Counter Foreign Interference Taskforce, boosting our ability to prosecute and deter foreign interference, and uplifting protection of the technology against espionage and foreign interference
Delivering a smaller, better targeted migration system
The Albanese Government continues to invest in rebuilding and reforming Australia's migration system by attracting migrants from around the world to help create jobs and drive productivity, while delivering on commitments in the Migration Strategy that are helping bring migration back down to sustainable levels:
- Delivering the 2024-25 permanent Migration Program at 185,000 places, with an ongoing focus on skilled migration.
- Providing funding for visa processing to ensure the Government continues to deliver on priorities, including applying additional scrutiny to international student visa applications and providing streamlined processing for skilled workers, such as in healthcare professions.
- Implementing a new National Innovation Visa and closing the Business Innovation and Investment Program to new applicants.
Improving economic and social outcomes for migrants
The Albanese Government will invest $120.9 million from 2024-25 on a number of proven programs to deliver better economic and social outcomes for refugees. This funding includes $86.6 million to improve the sustainability of settlement services and $27 million to extend successful programs, including the Youth Transition Support program and support for refugee and migrant women experiencing domestic and family violence.
Additional measures include conversational English language classes in Community Hubs and further support for the Community Refugee Integration and Settlement Pilot, supporting the Government's commitment on complementary protection. These investments ensure newly resettled refugees in Australia are provided the support they need to succeed in the community.
The Government will also provide additional funding of $15 million for an information and education package to combat migrant worker exploitation, building on the Government's strong agenda of protecting vulnerable migrant workers who speak out, and cracking down on employers who do the wrong thing.
We are delivering on our commitment to the security and prosperity of Australia by securing our borders and building a migration system which supports migrants and protects them from exploitation, while delivering the skills we need.
