The Australian Border Force (ABF) wrote to the Port Hedland International Airport (PHIA) in September 2023 to outline the steps all airports are required to undertake to secure a permanent border clearance capability to service regular international flights.
This follows media reports suggesting that ABF administrative costs incurred to deliver customs and immigration services were acting as a barrier to regular international flights to and from Port Hedland.
Currently, the ABF provides services to PHIA on a restricted and ad hoc basis and where operationally possible. This is entirely consistent with the classification of Port Hedland as a Restricted Use International and Alternate International Airport.
As is the case with all airports, where requests are made, the ABF then seeks to recover from the airport operator, the costs of transporting and deploying officers to provide the necessary customs and immigration services.
The airport has been made aware of the Framework on New and Redeveloping International Airports (the Framework) which applies to all airport operators seeking to establish a new permanent, ongoing border clearance capability to service regular, scheduled international flights.
This is a transparent process managed by the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development, Communication and the Arts (DITRDCA) to ensure a consistent, nationwide approach to establishing new international operations.
The Framework requires all airport operators to make a formal application and business case against the national interest assessment criteria for consideration by Government.
Airport operators are responsible for costs associated with relevant infrastructure and facilities required to support international services, including any costs associated with establishing a border services capability at the airport incurred by border agencies.
