Maritime Border Command (MBC), is a multi-agency task force embedded within the Australian Border Force, that is the lead civil maritime security authority to coordinate the protection of Australian offshore assets.
Contents
The Command was established in 2005 originally named the Joint Offshore Protection Command, in October 2006 it was renamed to the Border Protection Command and was again renamed in July 2015 to coincide with the establishment of the Australian Border Force.
Structure
The Command is constituted by elements of the Australian Border Force (ABF) and the Australian Defence Force (ADF), with its headquarters in Canberra and is part of the Operations Group of the ABF. The Australian Border Force is part of the Department of Immigration and Border Protection. Since September 2013, MBC has been part of Operation Sovereign Borders, which operates as a Joint Agency Taskforce. The Commander of OSB is Lieutenant General Angus Campbell.
The ADF elements of MBC are commanded from Northern Command in Darwin, Northern Territory.
Role
The MBC delivers a coordinated national approach to offshore protection by operating as a single maritime surveillance, response and interception agency.
It detects and deters a wide range of illegal activities using a combination of ABF and Defence aircraft and vessels. ABF response assets include Coastwatch aircraft and Marine Unit patrol vessels. Its activities take place under a variety of legislation covering areas such as customs, fisheries, quarantine, immigration, environment and law enforcement.
The Command is responsible for coordinating and controlling operations to protect Australia's national interests against the following maritime security threats: