Australian Border Force

Australian Border Force
Agency overview
Formed 1 July 2015
Preceding Agency
Jurisdiction Commonwealth of Australia
Headquarters Customs House, Canberra
35°17′1″S 149°7′55″E / 35.28361°S 149.13194°E / -35.28361; 149.13194
Minister responsible
Agency executive
Parent department Department of Immigration and Border Protection
Website http://www.border.gov.au/australian-border-force-abf
Australian Border Force Act 2015
Parliament of Australia
An Act relating to the Australian Border Force, the Australian Border Force Commissioner and persons performing work for the Department, and for related purposes.
Citation Australian Border Force Act 2015 (Cth)
Enacted by Australian House of Representatives
Date passed 25 Mar 2015
Enacted by Australian Senate
Date passed 14 May 2015
Date of Royal Assent 20 May 2015
Date commenced 1 July 2015
Legislative history
Bill introduced in the Australian House of Representatives Australian Border Force Bill 2015
Bill citation Australian Border Force Bill 2015 (Cth)
Introduced by The Hon. Peter Dutton MP, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
First reading 25 Feb 2015
Second reading 25 Mar 2015
Third reading 25 Mar 2015
Bill introduced in the Australian Senate Australian Border Force Bill 2015
First reading 25 Mar 2015
Second reading 14 May 2015
Third reading 14 May 2015
Status: In force

The Australian Border Force (abbreviated to ABF) is the Australian government agency, tasked with border protection and national security duties. This agency was established on 1 July 2015 after the merger of the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service and some parts of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection (DIBP). The ABF officers are also now equipped with firearms and wear a different uniform.

It was announced on 9 May 2014 by the Immigration Minister Scott Morrison MP.[1]

The Australian Border Force draws together the operational border, investigations, compliance, detention and enforcement functions of the two existing agencies. Policy, regulatory and corporate functions will combine within the broader department.

Ranks

The Australian Border Force has its own rank structure, from lowest to highest:

Rank Insignia

Uniformed Australian Border Force officers have their rank displayed on their shoulder epaulettes, attached to shirts, jumpers or jacket. The rank and epaulette styling keeps in line with many other law enforcement/border agencies and shares close similarities with its United Kingdom counterpart, the UK Border Force.

The ABF rank insignia's have four components placed against an ink navy colored field:

ABF Front line Officer ranks and insignia

(commonly seen at Airports, Seaports, Border Patrol, Enforcement & Maritime Ops, Air Cargo, Container Examination Facility, Postal Exams, Detector Dog Unit.)

Rank Assistant Border Force Officer (level 1) Assistant Border Force Officer (level 2) Border Force Officer Leading Border Force Officer Senior Border Force Officer Border Force Supervisor
Australian Public Service (APS) level APS 1 APS 2 APS 3 APS 4 APS 5 APS 6
Insignia
ABF Executive level ranks and insignia
Rank Border Force Inspector Border Force Superintendent Commander

(Regional Commander)

Assistant Commissioner

of the ABF

 Deputy Commissioner

of the ABF

 Commissioner of the ABF

and

Comptroller of Customs

Australian Public Service (APS) level EL 1 EL 2 SES 1 SES 2 SES 3 Department Head/CEO
Insignia

Equipment

Surveillance Australia aircraft operated for Border Protection Command.
An Offshore Patrol Vessel of the Customs Marine Unit in Darwin, Northern Territory

Prior to the standing up of the Australian Border Force, the Australian Customs and Border Protection Service had Officers in certain operational instances where they were armed with Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). These Officers were generally those that worked in Enforcement Operations, Investigations, and the Marine Unit. Since the 1st July 2015, with the creation of the Australian Border Force came a change direction and environment. The ABF has geared itself more to a law enforcement aspect to help adapt itself with the increasing threat of terrorism, on both a global and local standpoint, people smuggling, and highly organised criminal syndicates and organisations. As a result, the ABF has begun to arm trained officers to carry firearms and PPE at all major Australian international airports.

ABF Officers are supplied with current generation Glock 17 9mm semi-automatic pistol. ASP 21 inch telescopic baton, Smith & Wesson hinged handcuffs, Oleoresin Capsicum (OC) Spray.

Other areas of the ABF use other firearms. One such unit is the Marine Unit and Border Protection Command, which operates alongside with the Australian Defence Force. With this partnership ABF Officers are equipped with the same rifles that are currently in service with the Australian Defence Force, that being a F88 Austeyr, a modified Steyr AUG A1.

See also

References

  1. ↑ Bourke, Latika (9 May 2014). "Immigration Minister Scott Morrison announces new Australian Border Force". ABC News. Retrieved 1 July 2015.
This article is issued from Wikipedia - version of the Saturday, February 06, 2016. The text is available under the Creative Commons Attribution/Share Alike but additional terms may apply for the media files.