Department of Home Affairs Archives

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Columnists

Election 2022: Add seven new secretaries and a couple of senior agency heads?

By Verona Burgess

Editors' Picks

Let’s assume, for the sake of discussing machinery of government, that the mood for change translates to a major overhaul of the suite of portfolios.

Election 2022: Wong’s capability ambitions for DFAT go beyond strategic power

By Melissa Coade

Federal

Squaring off with Marise Payne, Penny Wong said Australia’s approach to foreign affairs needed to adapt to the unprecedented times.

Election 2022: Hard-nosed border protection jewel in Andrews’ national security plan

By Melissa Coade

Defence

Karen Andrews releases a five-point border-protection plan, pledging anti-people smuggling Operation Sovereign Borders will remain in place. …

Understaffed government workers scrambling at major airports

By Melissa Coade

Community & Social

The CPSU says understaffing has created pressures for Home Affairs and DAWE employees, who are struggling in unsafe working conditions at airports.

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Insights and analysis

Roll call of APS politicisation under the Morrison government

By Peter Gearin

Editors' Picks

The APS has faced politicisation by Australia's elected officials, either through direct political interference or by ignoring established protocols.

Home Affairs urged to improve processes for applicants from Afghanistan

By Tom Ravlic

Federal

Home Affairs should increase resourcing to process the visa applications of the Afghan cohort, a parliamentary committee says.

Commission for law enforcement should have deputy: committee report

By Tom Ravlic

News

Parliamentary joint committee says the Australian Commission for Law Enforcement must have a deputy commissioner.

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Columnists

Politicising flood assistance, then complicating the receiving of it

By Verona Burgess

Editors' Picks

Feeling bamboozled about commonwealth assistance to the 2022 floods? If this is how it goes during a natural disaster, let’s hope we’re never in a…

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Interviews

Working for government can be a borderline business but there is opportunity in complexity, assistant commissioner says

By Melissa Coade

Australian Capital Territory

Migration fraud, illegal importations, national security, cargo activity and traveller-processing underpin the intelligence Erin Dale receives to do her job.

Australia issues 3,000 visas to Ukrainians in under three weeks

By Melissa Coade

Community & Social

Immigration minister Alex Hawke says the government will keep progressing applications from Ukrainians across all visa categories as a priority.

Gains shouldn’t overshadow challenges, say public sector experts on International Women’s Day

By Jackson Graham

Federal

The APS proportionally employs more women than the wider labour force yet the gender pay gap remains skewed towards men.

Targeted incentives for temporary visas to aid economy recovery

By Melissa Coade

Federal

The federal government plans to use changes to three subclasses of temporary visas as a way to give local businesses access to more workers.

Advocates urge Australia to welcome Ukrainian refugees as minister meets with community

By Melissa Coade

Community & Social

The Law Council of Australia has called on the federal government to support international efforts to accommodate refugees leaving Ukraine. …

European Union representatives look to Australian model for online safety

By Melissa Coade

Communications & Technology

Julie Inman Grant has met with European Parliament members for high-level talks about national online safety regulation and child online protection framework.

Return to offices in March for public servants in two major federal agencies

By Jackson Graham

Federal

Some agencies anticipate giving staff a week’s notice, others two weeks’ notice, and some are continuing with plans for the transition to occur in March. …