ABF
Australian Border Force
Federal border enforcement — customs, immigration enforcement, anti-smuggling.
2
Obligations enforced
4
Enforcement actions tracked
3
Scope topics
Obligations enforced by ABF (2)
- criticalCWLTHDocument VEVO checks + retain employer records (s 245AYL Migration Act)
Employers should document VEVO checks at hire; statutory defence for compliant employers.
- highCWLTHCustoms Act 1901 — import declarations + duties
Goods imported >$1,000 require Import Declaration (N10) + duty payment.
Recent ABF enforcement
- enforcement focus2025ABF illegal work fines reach record level 2024-2025
ABF illegal work fines reached record levels during 2024-2025; >$10M cumulative across hospitality, cleaning, construction + agriculture.
- enforcement focus2025ABF enforcement focus 2025 — gig economy + cleaning
ABF announced focus on gig economy + cleaning + agriculture sectors for illegal work in 2025.
- criminal conviction2024ABF employer prosecutions — illegal work 2024
Multiple employer prosecutions through 2024 for allowing illegal work — primarily hospitality + cleaning + construction.
- sanctions2024ABF + Border Force employer sponsor sanctions 2024
Multiple employer sponsors sanctioned for illegal work / sponsor obligation breaches; sponsorship bars + criminal referrals.
Scope topics
Source: regulator's own website. Rules Mate links and summarises — we don't republish full statutory text.