The Australian Government is committed to ensuring that Australia’s law enforcement and authorities have the best capability to respond to threats to border security. Protecting Australia’s borders from the threats of terrorism, people smuggling, organized crime, including the trafficking of illicit goods and illegal foreign fishing is Australia’s top priority.
The Australian Government will invest $1.2 billion to bolster Australia’s border security with a range of measures including eight new border patrol vessels. The new Customs patrol vessels will be able to travel further than the existing craft and have the capacity to conduct operations in all parts of Australia’s waters. The first vessel will be used in 2012-13 with the full new fleet being operational by 2015-16.
Additional funding for the management of irregular migration in Indonesia will help improve conditions and security in immigration detention centers and enable UNHCR to provide faster refugee status determinations. A network of outreach offices will be funded to help Indonesian authorities better manage irregular migration flows and people smuggling activities.
The collection of biometric data will substantially improve verification of the identity of foreign nationals seeking to enter Australia by obtaining fingerprints and facial images from visa applications in 10 overseas posts.
The measures announced in the 2010 Budget build on the $654 million border protection and anti people smuggling package in the 2009 Budget.
Australian border security has other security measures as well. The Jindalee Operational Radar Network (JORN) is an over-the-horizon radar network that can monitor air and sea movements across 37,000 km2. It has an official range of 3,000 km. It is used in the defense of Australia and can also monitor maritime operations, wave heights and wind directions. Up to now, the network has cost approximately $1.8 billion. The 24-hour radar system helps Coast watch, Customs and Immigration in the detection and prevention of illegal entry by migrants, smuggling and unlicensed fishing as well as helping with search and rescue efforts and early storm warnings.
The Australian government is working hard to protect and secure their borders, for the safety of their people and to stop people smugglers, terrorists, trafficking and any other illegal entries. Any migrant planning to get to Australia illegally must consider the risks this technology has to their plan.
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