Illegal foreign fishing targeted through national cash injection
Federal Budget
Border security is a strong focus of this year’s Federal Budget, with illegal foreign fishing, border patrols and increased background checking all receiving millions in funding.
Close to $56m has been allocated to address “border and biosecurity threats” from illegal foreign fishing in the country's northern waters, including off the coast of Queensland.
The money is set to go towards patrols by the Australian Border Force and the Australian Fisheries Management Authority, supporting prosecutions by the Office of the Director of Public Prosecutions and legal support by the Northern Territory Legal Aid Commission.
More than $18m is expected to be allocated to the Australian Federal Police and the ABF to continue to combat people smuggling, while $14.5m has been pencilled in for the upkeep of new ABF patrol boats.
There is a total of $40.4 million set to be made available in the 2026/27 financial year to sustain AFP and ABF operations to counter transnational, serious and organised crime, building on operations begun last year to counter money laundering and the financing of terrorism.
The Federal Government said it would provide close to $67m across the next four years to help streamline AusCheck’s background checking services.
The Government said $88.6m in total would be provided in 2026–27 to support Australia’s border security.
