Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Committee opening statement
25 February 2025
Stephanie Foster PSM
Secretary, Department of Home Affairs
Good morning Chair.
I’d like to do three things in this opening statement.
The first is to acknowledge Gavan Reynolds at his first Estimates hearing as Australian Border Force Commissioner. Gavan is already making a huge difference, building on Michael Outram’s legacy and I am delighted to have him as my partner on the Home Affairs Leadership Team.
The second is to note the numerous achievements of Home Affairs staff since last November.
On the national security front, last month we released both the Counter Terrorism and Violent Extremism strategy, and a public statement on Countering Foreign Interference. These draw on our strong partnerships with States and Territories, and respond directly to the changing threat environment outlined by the Director General of Security.
With these releases, we now have in place ambitious strategies for our core functions: migration, cyber security, countering terrorism, violent extremism and foreign interference.
On 29 November last year landmark cyber security legislation received Royal Assent, positioning us at the forefront of international efforts to tackle cyber-attacks. And our partnerships with Industry on critical infrastructure protection continue to deepen, as we conduct a series of increasingly sophisticated exercises with key sectors of the economy.
This genuine public private partnership is also underpinning a roadmap for the growth and professionalization of our national cyber security workforce, inspiring advanced sharing and blocking of cyber threats, promoting greater sovereign cyber capability and collaborating in the face of the persistent cyber threat
Building on a series of directions under the Protective Security Policy Framework issued in July 2024, on 4 and 21 February 2025, I issued further directions prohibiting the use on Australian Government systems of both DeepSeek Products, Applications and Web Services as well as Kaspersky Lab, Inc Products and Services respectively. These directions seek to manage security risks to our systems.
Our Border Force colleagues have continued their successful targeting of harms at our border, with major seizures of illicit drugs, cigarettes, tobacco and vapes, countering illegal foreign fishing and successfully resolving people smuggling ventures while continuing to facilitate legitimate trade and travel.
Implementation of game changing reforms to our migration system continue, driven by future skills and economic needs. I note particularly the introduction of the skills in demand visa and the National Innovation visa late last year, and our work building new cooperative mechanisms to manage migration with states and territories to better deliver this important national endeavour.
We are continuing to transform our approach to Immigration compliance following landmark High Court decisions. This has included the passage of two Bills in November last year, which commenced in December and amended the Migration Act to introduce a range of powers to strengthen the integrity of Australia’s migration system and particularly removal powers. Following the passage of this legislation, the Department established a third country reception arrangement with the Government of Nauru. This has created new options for settlement for those non-citizens who have otherwise exhausted all avenues to remain in Australia, but have significant barriers to removal – strengthening Australia’s ability to actively manage its migration system.
Also in November, we supported the passage of a third Bill, the Prohibiting Items in Immigration Detention Facilities Bill, that will provide the Australian Border Force with new powers to search and seize items that pose a risk to the health, safety or security of people in the facility or to the order of the facility.
We have also responded to the social cohesion challenges, with the establishment of a new Office of Community Cohesion bringing together levers across the Home Affairs portfolio and building collaboration across the Commonwealth, with States and Territories and with civil society.
And finally, the third is to express my profound appreciation to the Home Affairs team, across Australia and around the world, for the extraordinary work they do every day to help keep Australia prosperous, secure and united. Their professionalism, their passion and their commitment make a difference to the lives of all Australians every day. I am enormously proud of them, and privileged to lead such a team.
