Border enforcement has been cut by $600 million over the next four years.

As part of this budget cut, Operation Sovereign Borders is expected to decrease from $1.6 billion this year to $1.4 billion in 2026/27.

Australian Federal Police will also face a $200 million budget cut. This has raised concerns about Labor’s ability to money management, particularly if the enforcement organisations require more funding.

Chris O’Keefe challenged the decision, asking “Can we trust Labor to spend what is needed to protect our borders from illegal arrivals?”