Coalition Pledges to Undo Labor’s Home Affairs Reshuffle

Shadow Home Affairs spokesperson James Paterson at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra on March 6, 2023. AAP Image/Mick Tsikas

Peter Dutton’s Coalition is promising sweeping changes to Australia’s national security apparatus if it wins the upcoming federal election.

Central to this plan is the reintegration of key national security departments agencies under the Home Affairs portfolio away from the Attorney-General’s Office.

“The plan is to bring all of our national security policy and operational agencies back under one roof, working together seamlessly and reporting to one minister,” shadow home affairs spokesperson James Paterson told the Sydney Institute on Jan. 30.

Reinforcing National Security

In 2022, the AFP, AUSTRAC, and the Australian Criminal Intelligence Commission were all shifted out of Home Affairs and placed under the Attorney-General’s portfolio. ASIO would follow in 2024.

This shift was met with criticism from security experts, who argued that the former Home Affairs Department in 2017 was supposed to consolidate all the groups for better coordination.

Paterson said the fragmentation of agencies created inefficiencies in handling security threats, particularly in dealing with anti-Semitism, immigration detainee issues, border security, and delays in listing terror organisations.

Paterson claimed the current Home Affairs Minister Tony Burke was the weakest “in the history of the portfolio.”

In contrast he promised swift action on high-risk offenders.

“Instead of allowing high-risk offenders back into the Australian community, we will not hesitate to cancel visas and deport people of poor character,” he stated.

Paterson also said the government was slow to respond to the anti-Semitism spree that has continued for months in Sydney and Melbourne.

“It is more concerned about votes in our inner-cities and western Sydney than it is about social cohesion. There is no contest for the government’s biggest failure on national security: anti-Semitism,” Paterson said.

Labor PM Defends Approach

Earlier this month, the government unveiled its new Counter-Terrorism and Violent Extremism Strategy aimed at dealing with radicalisation of young Australians, it also committed $106.2 million over the next four years to strengthen support services.

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has also stressed his government’s efforts in dealing with the ongoing tide of anti-Semitic incidents and threats.

The situation took an even more serious turn earlier this week with the discovery of a caravan full of the mining explosive Powergel intended for an attack on the community.

“The fact that people are being detained, arrested, charged, kept in the clink without bail, indicates that that’s the case,” Albanese told ABC Radio, in a bid to reassure the public.

Labor minister have also criticised Opposition Leader Dutton and the Coalition for trying to capitalise on the situation.

“This is a time for unity and for the country to come together against these atrocities and this appalling act—not a time to look for political partisanship or to make political points,” Albanese told reporters.

Prime Minister Albanese has also pointed to several measures introduced by the government, including the ban on Nazi symbols and the appointment of Jillian Segal as Australia’s first Special Envoy to Combat Anti-Semitism.

Additionally, the government passed legislation criminalising doxxing, an initiative that was opposed by the Liberal and National parties.

The government’s actions also include a $25 million commitment to improve safety at Jewish sites and the establishment of a National Student Ombudsman to deal with incidents on university campuses.