During National Child Protection Week, Australian Border Force announced the results of a coordinated Australia-New Zealand operation targeting child-exploitation offences. Between 30 August and 5 September, ABF officers arrested two people, cancelled multiple visas at Sydney, Cairns and Perth airports, and seized electronic devices containing child-abuse material. The joint operation involved state police, the Australian Federal Police and the Joint Agency Child Exploitation Taskforce, illustrating how immigration powers supplement criminal investigations. In one case, a non-citizen’s visa was cancelled at the border after illicit content was detected on their phone, preventing entry and triggering removal proceedings. Visa cancellations on character grounds have risen 19 per cent in the past year, reflecting Home Affairs’ broader use of section 116 to bar travellers who present security or criminal risks. Multinational firms relocating staff should brief assignees on Australia’s strict digital-device examination regime and ensure legal counsel is on standby for any border enquiries. The ABF says intelligence-led screening and digital forensics will expand over the next 12 months, with additional officers being trained to examine cloud-based storage. Travellers—business or leisure—should expect heightened scrutiny, especially on routes known for high-risk content flows.
Source: Australian Border Force
