Building a wall
THERE is no physical barrier separating our nation from the rest of the world.
There’s no wall as such but it’s important to have some control and management over who and what has the right to enter or exit Australia.
To protect our country’s border and manage the movement of people and goods across it, we have an agency, the Australian Border Force (ABF) that undertakes numerous tasks.
As part of national security, the ABF works in partnership with a range of other agencies, to provide protection of our community, the enforcement of our laws, resources and environment.
What they do
The Australian Border Force plays a vital role patrolling our airports, seaports, remote locations, mail and cargo centres and Australia's extended maritime jurisdiction.
Their role is to protect Australia's border from the entry of illegal and harmful goods and those intending to commit immigration fraud or threaten the national interest.
Some of the duties Border Force Officers undertake are: process the movement of travellers and goods; coordinate responses to border threats; undertake patrols and surveillance; board and search aircraft and vessels; and conduct investigations.
Environmental security
Pests and diseases that threaten our nation’s environment and economy need to be prevented.
Biosecurity controls at Australia’s borders minimise the risk of exotic pests and diseases entering our country.
With more than 60,000 kilometres of coastline offering a variety of pathways for exotic pests and diseases, the Department of Agriculture and Water Resources along with the ABF, screens, inspects and clears the millions of people, mail parcels, baggage, ships, animals, plants and cargo containers entering Australia every year using x–ray machines, surveillance, and detector dogs.