Department of Home Affairs | Departments/Agencies

Visa privatisation plan scrapped, with new approach to tackle ’emerging global threats’

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The CPSU noted the move was an “enormous win” for the more than 2000 public sector workers whose jobs would have been cut by the…

The promise of data in government: David Gruen

By David Gruen

Communications & Technology

Australian Statistician David Gruen explains the data-collection and data-aggregation assets in use by the ABS, other government bodies, and universities to shape public policy, and…

ASD spied on Australians over past year due to ‘rare circumstances’

By Shannon Jenkins

Defence

The Commonwealth’s top spy agency has gathered intelligence on Australians in an unknown number of cases over the past year. Australian Signals Directorate director-general Rachel…

Opinion: proper oversight of national security agencies is not a luxury in a democracy – it is a necessity

By Jenny McAllister

Features

Proper oversight of national security agencies is not a luxury in a democracy — it is a necessity, writes Senator Jennifer McAllister. And she is…

Indigenous procurement targets undermined by implementation and compliance issues, audit finds

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

Departments have failed to comply with targets set out by the Commonwealth’s Indigenous Procurement Policy, the Australian National Audit Office has found.

Spy agency could soon be hunting Australian cyber criminals with new powers

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The federal government’s top spy agency could be granted powers to help tackle online criminals based in Australia, including paedophiles and terrorists.

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Mark Crosweller ran the National Resilience Taskforce and Emergency Management Australia. He wants a compassionate narrative as well as accountability

By Stephen Easton

Editors' Picks

As grief turns to anger, blame quickly follows. Australia's community spirit has shone through this summer’s disastrous fires, but there is also tension in the…

Australian response to cyber threats must evolve, says Pezzullo

By Shannon Jenkins

Communications & Technology

Cyber security experts visited capital cities across Australia to brainstorm ways of protecting the country from cyber threats. Sixty experts attended the Cyber 2020 Forum…

How federal departments have supported their staff during bushfires

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The federal public servants tasked with delivering crucial services to bushfire affected communities have also been receiving much-needed support from their departments. A range of…

Ex-Home Affairs staffer says ‘compassionate politics’ needed to deal with climate change

By Shannon Jenkins

Energy & Environment

A former Department of Home Affairs staffer has criticised the federal government for failing to adopt a 2018 plan on preparing for natural disasters, including…

ABF officers directed to remove patches and cover tattoos

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The Department of Home Affairs has told uniformed Australian Border Force officers they must remove insignia flashes and hide tattoos. The new rules have reportedly…

Feds plan to join up government using computer science, on the way to service delivery ‘Nirvana’

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

The federal government wants to create whole-of-government information technology architecture to underpin its ambitious plans to improve service delivery.

Home Affairs has more important things to do than comply with the FOI Act: Michael Pezzullo

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

Complying with the Freedom of Information Act is a second-order priority for the Minister and the Department of Home Affairs, according to secretary Michael Pezzullo,…

Complaint-handling linked to low morale: insider says Home Affairs is rife with ███████

By Stephen Easton

Federal

An angry insider links simmering discontent about promotions and deep distrust of senior executives in the Department of Home Affairs to the way internal complaints…

Spy agencies and universities develop foreign interference guidelines

By Shannon Jenkins

Education

The federal government has released guidelines to counter foreign interference in the Australian university sector. A collaboration between government, the university sector, and national security…