Department of Home Affairs Archives

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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…

Public hearings into Home Affairs casino-corruption allegations on hold till further notice

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity’s public hearings into an allegedly corrupt relationship between Crown casinos and parts of the Department of Home Affairs…

The leak that wasn’t: department admits ‘erroneous’ referral to federal police

By Stephen Easton

Communications & Technology

The Department of Home Affairs has issued an intriguing statement acknowledging it made an "erroneous" referral to the Australian Federal Police earlier this year. It…

A shot across the bow: Home Affairs under investigation for persistent breaches of FOI Act

By Stephen Easton

Federal

Information commissioner Angelene Falk has fired a warning shot at the Australian Public Service over transparency with the announcement that she is investigating the Department…

Home Affairs wants to stop credit card fraud

By Shannon Jenkins

Federal

The Department of Home Affairs is seeking an off-the-shelf solution to tackle credit card fraud. The department says it wants a solution that can help secure…

Home Affairs and Border Force executives to appear at ACLEI’s first public inquiry with former ABF chief Roman Quaedvlieg

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The Australian Commission for Law Enforcement Integrity will hold its first-ever public hearings in 13 years as part of its inquiry into allegations of a…

No help from the helpline: ABC uncovers new ‘bureaucratic bungles’ in Hakeem Al-Araibi case

By Stephen Easton

Federal

The ABC has uncovered new details of how Australian authorities contributed to refugee Hakeem Al-Araibi almost being shipped back to his persecutors in the kingdom…