Climate change risks rank alongside counterterrorism and cyber security as a key priority for Australia’s home affairs department, according to a recent estimate hearing. On Feb. 13, the secretary for home affairs, Mike Pezzullo, faced questioning from Senator Alex Antic, who asked whether the department’s focus on climate change risks was “comedy [or] parody?” Pezzullo…

The Chinese embassy in Canberra has lodged an official complaint with the Australian government in regards to a speech made by Liberal Senator James Paterson addressed to the European Parliament in regards to foreign interference. The embassy said Paterson, who is also the chair of the Parliamentary Joint Committee on Intelligence and Security, displayed “bias…

Australia’s Home Affairs Minister Karen Andrews has called for additional powers to keep convicted terrorists who posed an “unacceptable risk” to society, in prolonged detention. But, experts are sceptical of the government handing more powers to Australia’s domestic security apparatus. Andrews said there were currently 51 offenders serving jail terms on terrorism-related charges in Australia,…

The federal government is tightening the rules for airport baggage handlers and port workers to bar people with criminal convictions from accessing secure areas. The changes to eligibility criteria for people holding aviation or maritime security identification cards means “serious criminals” will no longer be able to import illicit goods through airports, seaports or offshore…