While Australia has historically viewed immigration as a key part of nation building, increasingly the focus has moved to border protection, law enforcement and national security.

The merger of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection with the Australian Customs Service and Border Protection, resulting in the formation of the new Department of Immigration and Border Protection and the Australian Border Force reflects this evolution and is a once in a generation change to managing Australia's borders and the migration program.

Effective from 1 July 2015, the new Department will be a global organisation with almost 15,000 people, working in more than 60 offices, in more than 50 countries. It will be the second largest revenue collection agency for the government. It is forecast to collect $63 billion over the forward estimates, or more than $15 billion per annum in revenue.

The focus of the new Department will include immigration and citizenship, refugee and humanitarian programs, trade and customs, offshore maritime security, and revenue collection.

With the focus on law enforcement, the jurisdiction of the Law Enforcement Integrity Commissioner will extend to the new Department on a whole of agency basis.

The Telecommunications (Interception and Access) Act 1979 will be amended to automatically include the Department as an enforcement agency that may have access to telecommunications data and as a criminal law enforcement agency that seek access to prospective telecommunications.

Applying an intelligence-led risk-based approach to inform strategy, planning, decision-making and resource allocations, the integration of data, data analysis and the utilisation of information lodged in relation to visa and related matters will inform decision-making and assist in identifying non-compliance and law enforcement operations.

With a high-tech focus, the new Department of Immigration and Border Protection will heighten the security of its systems through increased use of biometrics, analysis of metadata/data, a whole-of-government approach, and international partnerships.

The creation of the Australian Border Force as the Department's operational enforcement arm will have a significant role in delivering on national, international, regional and local border protection, law enforcement and national security priorities.

As an intelligence-led, mobile and technological enabled force working onshore and offshore, including with strategic partners, it will operate under the Strategic Border Command to counter threats ahead of the border, employ sophisticated risk assessments through visa programs, and work with international partners to deliver enforcement outcomes.

The impact of these changes are significant and far-reaching.

To find out more about this and what the changes mean for you, we invite you to attend a seminar that will be held in Holding Redlich's Melbourne office on 21 April. Please click here for more information and to register for this event.

This publication does not deal with every important topic or change in law and is not intended to be relied upon as a substitute for legal or other advice that may be relevant to the reader's specific circumstances. If you have found this publication of interest and would like to know more or wish to obtain legal advice relevant to your circumstances please contact one of the named individuals listed.