Australian Border Force

Australian Border Force
ABF Emblem
ABF Emblem
ABF Flag
ABF Flag
AbbreviationABF
Agency overview
Formed1 July 2015; 9 years ago (1 July 2015)
Preceding agencies
Employees5,800[1]
Annual budgetA$1.5 billion (2018)
Jurisdictional structure
Size15,835,100 km² (land and marine)
Population25.1 million (2018 est.)
Legal jurisdiction Australia
Governing bodyAustralian Government
Constituting instrument
Specialist jurisdictions
  • National border patrol, security, and integrity.
  • Customs, excise and gambling.
  • Coastal patrol, marine border protection, marine search and rescue.
Operational structure
Overseen byNational Anti-Corruption Commission
HeadquartersCanberra Airport
Elected officer responsible
Agency executive
Parent agencyDepartment of Home Affairs
Functions
7
  • Border Protection
  • Counter Terrorism
  • Maritime Operations
  • Enforcement Operations
  • Immigration Compliance
  • Detention Operations
  • Tariff Collection
Customs Houses
15
  • Brisbane
  • Canberra
  • Christmas Island
  • Dampier
  • Darwin
  • Geraldton
  • Melbourne
  • Nhulunbuy (Gove)
  • Sydney
  • Perth
  • Port Adelaide
  • Port Hedland
  • Port Lincoln
  • Port Pirie
  • Tullamarine
Facilities
District Offices
5
  • Albany
  • Broome
  • Bowen
  • Bunbury
  • Bundaberg
  • Cairns
  • Carnarvon
  • Coffs Harbour
  • Eden
  • Esperance
  • Gladstone
  • Launceston
  • Mackay
  • Newcastle
  • RAAF Richmond
  • Thursday Island
  • Townsville
  • Weipa
  • Wollongong
Airbases15
Detention Centres
7
Website
www.abf.gov.au Edit this at Wikidata

The Australian Border Force (ABF) is a federal law enforcement agency, part of the Department of Home Affairs, responsible for offshore and onshore border enforcement, investigations, compliance, detention operations and customs services in Australia. Through the ABF's Marine Unit, the ABF performs Coast Guard and marine law enforcement duties and is a component of the Maritime Border Command. The ABF is also part of the National Intelligence Community and is an active member of the World Customs Organization.[2][3][4]

The ABF was formed under the Australian Border Force Act 2015 with broadened legislative powers including the introduction of sworn officers.[5] A new uniform was introduced and following the transition there was an increase in the number of officers authorised to carry firearms.[6][7] As of 2016, approximately 15% of the Force is firearms trained which will increase by 2020 to no less than 25%.[1]

  1. ^ a b "ABF 2020" (PDF). Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Australian Border Force. Archived from the original (PDF) on 19 November 2016. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  2. ^ "Role of the NIC Agencies". 23 November 2018.
  3. ^ "World Customs Organization's 5th Global Canine Forum".
  4. ^ "Overview of Australian Border Force's counter-terrorism capabilities".
  5. ^ "Australian Border Force Act 2015". Austlii.
  6. ^ "Carriage of Operational Equipment by Officers of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service – Fact" (PDF). Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Australian Customs and Border Protection. 12 March 2010. Archived from the original (PDF) on 7 February 2017. Retrieved 6 December 2016.
  7. ^ "Immigration and Border Protection Portfolio – Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee". Parliament of Australia. Senate – Estimates. 19 October 2015. Retrieved 6 December 2016.