1. What is happening in Home Affairs following Pezzullo's departure: With the Coalition stepping up attacks on the immigration minister, Home Affairs insiders spoke to The Saturday Paper about much-needed reforms to the department.
- Author
-
Barlow, Karen
- Subjects
COALITION governments ,COALITIONS ,REFORMS ,ADMINISTRATIVE courts ,ADMINISTRATIVE remedies ,EMIGRATION & immigration - Abstract
This article provides an overview of the current state of the Australian Department of Home Affairs following the departure of its former head, Mike Pezzullo. The Coalition has been criticizing the immigration minister, Andrew Giles, and there is a call for reforms within the department. The controversy surrounding the High Court decision on indefinite detention has given the Coalition an opportunity to question the Albanese government. Giles is facing pressure to address his contentious direction 99, which has resulted in overturned visa cancellations. The article also mentions the hiring of consultancy firm KPMG to conduct an ethics course for senior public servants, despite the firm's tarnished reputation due to scandals. The Bureau of Meteorology is facing challenges with its forecasts due to automation and a lack of experienced staff. The article highlights the workplace culture and challenges within the Australian Department of Home Affairs, including issues with visa scams, backlogs, outdated IT systems, and a high turnover of senior staff. The department's size and power have been a point of contention, with some arguing against combining police and intelligence functions with immigration policy. The department has also faced criticism for its handling of cases and treatment of staff, with concerns about low morale, bullying, and harassment. Efforts are being made to reform the department's culture and improve training and development. The article also mentions the need for better regulation of migration agents and potential changes to the department's structure. [Extracted from the article]
- Published
- 2024