Overview
- The department has begun a voluntary redundancy process with expressions of interest set to close just before budget week.
- Leaders told staff the exits will likely total in the hundreds and stay below 1,000, though no fixed target has been set.
- The offer covers eligible staff up to executive level and includes Australian Border Force but excludes the AFP and ASIO.
- Secretary Stephanie Foster said the cuts are needed to live within next year’s budget after attrition and other savings fell short, following guidance to fund pay rises from existing budgets and flag low‑priority savings.
- Home Affairs employs about 15,000 people across border, immigration, and security work, and the public sector union warned the losses could strain visa processing and frontline operations.