Minister Leon Schreiber’s Budget Vote shows that Home Affairs’ efforts to tackle illegal immigration and fast-track digitalisation are starting to produce results.
At the core of this department’s progress is a tougher stance on illegal immigration, backed by both legal reform and increased enforcement. The recent Constitutional Court victory limiting repeat asylum applications marks a clear move to close loopholes that allowed the system to be abused.
These reforms are already being reinforced through stronger enforcement. In the last year alone, Home Affairs conducted more enforcement operations than in the previous five-year term combined.
Under Minister Schreiber, the department is shifting from passive administration to active control of our country’s borders.
Digitalisation stands out as the most transformative reform driving this progress. The rollout of the Electronic Travel Authorisation (ETA) system introduces automated, biometric-based visa processing that removes human discretion and reduces fraud.
By using biometric checks and rapid approvals, the system strengthens security while speeding up entry for legitimate travellers.
This is a clear shift from the slow, paper-based processes that Home Affairs has previously been known for.
Minister Schreiber’s roll-out of bank-branch terminals for SmartID applications, now in 167 branches, is cutting Home Affairs queues, speeding up delivery, eliminating paperwork, and cutting out the corruption that manual applications allow.
Together, these reforms show that under Minister Schreiber, the department is modernising, enforcing the law, and delivering services more effectively. The task now is to sustain this momentum so that it translates into long-term improvements that secure our borders.