As a government, our highest priority is to keep Australians safe and protect our way of life, freedom and values.
To protect Australia’s security and interests we are undertaking the biggest rebuild of the Australian Defence Force since the Second World War.
Over the next decade, the federal government is investing more than $270 billion in Australia’s Defence capability. This will safeguard Australia and provide unprecedented opportunities for Australian industry.
To meet future security challenges, particularly in the Indo Pacific, Australia is entering into an enhanced security partnership with the United Kingdom and the United States – AUKUS.
AUKUS will initially focus on cyber capabilities, artificial intelligence, quantum technologies and additional undersea capabilities.
The first major initiative under AUKUS is to support Australia’s acquisition of at least eight nuclear-powered submarines for the Royal Australian Navy.
This capability – which the Government intends to build in South Australia – will significantly enhance Australia’s ability to deter threats and uphold stability and security in the Indo-Pacific.
To keep Australians safe from domestic and foreign threats, the government is also providing an additional $1.9 billion over a decade to strengthen our national security, law enforcement and intelligence agencies.
Keeping Australians safe from dangerous criminals is a fundamental responsibility of government.
This is why the Liberal and Nationals government has increased the minister’s power to cancel visas for non-citizens convicted of a serious crime. Since coming into office in 2013, we have cancelled and refused visas to over 10,000 serious criminals.
Through the Migration Amendment (Strengthening the Character Test) Bill 2021, we are further strengthening these laws to protect Australians from foreign criminals. Our new laws will give the government tougher powers to deport non-citizens who commit serious violent or sexual crimes.
I was proud to support this Bill in the House of Representatives last week. There’s absolutely no place in Australia for those who pose a threat to the safety of Australians.
If you would like to learn more about how we are working together to keep Australia safe from those who would seek to do us harm, or to report suspicious behaviour, visit: www.nationalsecurity.gov.au
