{"id":"F2025L01105","name":"Australian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2025","slug":"australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025","collection":"legislative_instrument","jurisdiction":"commonwealth","status":"in_force","isInForce":true,"actNumber":null,"makingDate":null,"administeringDepartment":null,"currentVersion":{"id":442963,"registerId":"F2025L01105-fast-fetch-1775957872951","compilationNumber":null,"startDate":"2026-04-12","status":"InForce","reasons":null,"registeredAt":null},"sections":[{"sectionNumber":"1","sectionType":"section","heading":"Australian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2025","content":"---\nmeta-content-style-type: text/css\nmeta-content-type: application/xhtml+xml; charset=utf-8\n---\n\n![Commonwealth Coat of Arms of Australia](image.001.jpeg)\n\n \n\nLIN 25/057\n\n \n\nAustralian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2025\n\nI, Tony Burke, Minister for Home Affairs, make the following rule.\n\nDated   14 September 2025\n\nTony Burke\n\nMinister for Home Affairs\n\n \n\n \n\n \n\nContents\n\n1  Name\n\n2  Commencement\n\n3  Authority\n\n4  Definitions\n\n5  Schedules\n\n6  Form of oath or affirmation—Australian Border Force Commissioner\n\n7  Form of oath or affirmation—Immigration and Border Protection worker\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nAustralian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2015\n\n \n\n \n\n1  Name\n\n  This instrument is the Australian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2025.\n\n2  Commencement\n\n  This instrument commences on the day after it is registered.\n\n3  Authority\n\n  This instrument is made under section 58 of the Australian Border Force Act 2015.\n\n4  Definitions\n\nNote: The following expressions used in this instrument are defined in subsection 4(1) of the Australian Border Force Act 2015:\n\n(a) Australian Border Force Commissioner;\n\n(b) Immigration and Border Protection worker.\n\n  In this instrument:\n\nAct means the Australian Border Force Act 2015.\n\n5  Schedules\n\n  Each instrument that is specified in a Schedule to this instrument is amended or repealed as set out in the applicable items in the Schedule concerned, and any other item in a Schedule to this instrument has effect according to its terms.\n\n6  Form of oath or affirmation—Australian Border Force Commissioner\n\n (1) For the purposes of subsection 13(1) of the Act, the following form of an oath for the Australian Border Force Commissioner is prescribed:\n\n  I, (full name of person making the oath), swear on the (religious text recognised by the person making the oath) to conduct myself with integrity and honesty in the exercise of my powers and in the performance of my duties as the Australian Border Force Commissioner. I will uphold the significant trust that is placed in me as a result of my role. I will, to the best of my ability, skill and knowledge, faithfully and professionally discharge all my duties according to law, and in such a manner that at all times upholds the good reputation of the Australian Border Force. So help me God (or the person may name a god recognised by their religion).\n\n (2) For the purposes of subsection 13(1) of the Act, the following form of an affirmation for the Australian Border Force Commissioner is prescribed:\n\n  I, (full name of person making the oath), solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will conduct myself with integrity and honesty in the exercise of my powers and in the performance of my duties as the Commissioner of the Australian Border Force. I will uphold the significant trust that is placed in me as a result of my role. I will, to the best of my ability, skill and knowledge, faithfully and professionally discharge all my duties according to law, and in such a manner that at all times upholds the good reputation of the Australian Border Force.\n\n7  Form of oath or affirmation—Immigration and Border Protection worker\n\n (1) For the purposes of subsection 24(1) of the Act, the following form of an oath for an Immigration and Border Protection worker is prescribed:\n\n  I, (full name of person making the oath), swear on the (religious text recognised by the person making the oath) to conduct myself with integrity and honesty in the exercise of my powers and in the performance of my duties as an officer of the Australian Border Force. I will uphold the significant trust that is placed in me as a result of my role. I will, to the best of my ability, skill and knowledge, faithfully and professionally discharge all my duties according to law, and in such a manner that at all times upholds the good reputation of the Australian Border Force. So help me God (or the person may name a god recognised by their religion).\n\n (2) For the purposes of subsection 24(1) of the Act, the following form of an affirmation for an Immigration and Border Protection worker is prescribed:\n\n  I, (full name of person making the oath), solemnly and sincerely affirm and declare that I will conduct myself with integrity and honesty in the exercise of my powers and in the performance of my duties as an officer of the Australian Border Force. I will uphold the significant trust that is placed in me as a result of my role. I will, to the best of my ability, skill and knowledge, faithfully and professionally discharge all my duties according to law, and in such a manner that at all times upholds the good reputation of the Australian Border Force.\n\n\n\n\nSchedule 1—Repeals\n\nAustralian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2015\n\n1  The whole of the instrument\n\nRepeal the instrument.\n","sortOrder":0}],"analysis":{"kimi_summary":{"content_quality":"ok","complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":false,"description":"The legislation maintains the same narrow scope as its predecessor. It performs a simple administrative function—prescribing ceremonial wording for oaths and affirmations—without expanding into substantive operational or policy matters. The repeal and replacement of the 2015 rule appears to be a routine update rather than a scope expansion."},"complexity_factors":["Very short instrument (approximately 1.5 pages of substantive content)","Only 2 defined terms in section 4 ('Act' and references to defined terms in the parent Act)","No nested exceptions or conditional logic","Straightforward structure: definitions, two substantive sections prescribing forms, and a repeal schedule","Minimal cross-referencing (only to specific subsections of the parent Act)","Prescriptive rather than discretionary language"],"plain_english_summary":"The instrument prescribes the exact religious-oath and secular-affirmation wording ABF officials—including the Commissioner and immigration/border protection staff—must use on appointment, requiring promises to act honestly, uphold public trust, perform duties lawfully and professionally, and protect the Force’s reputation.\n\nIt modernises and replaces the 2015 Oath and Affirmation Rule, creating a consistent, legally binding ethical commitment for senior ABF personnel."},"flash_summary":{"complexity_score":2,"scope_assessment":{"changed":true,"description":"This instrument replaces the Australian Border Force (Oath and Affirmation) Rule 2015 in full (Schedule 1) and prescribes specific wording for Commissioner and officer oaths/affirmations (secs 6–7). It therefore changes the operative instrument governing those oath/affirmation forms; the instrument itself does not state whether the new wording differs substantively from the 2015 text, so any substantive change in content cannot be determined from this instrument alone."},"complexity_factors":["Narrow subject-matter: only prescribes wording for oaths/affirmations (secs 6–7).","Direct statutory cross-references: forms are prescribed for purposes of subsections 13(1) and 24(1) of the Act (secs 6(1), 6(2), 7(1), 7(2)).","Repeal element: wholly repeals the 2015 instrument (Schedule 1), creating a complete replacement rather than incremental amendments.","Low administrative discretion: fixed text limits executive variation, but administrators must offer choice between oath and affirmation and accommodate a religious text or naming a god (secs 6(1), 7(1)).","Simple commencement rule: operates the day after registration (sec 2).","Defined-term reliance: depends on definitions in the Australian Border Force Act, requiring users to consult that Act for scope (sec 4)."],"plain_english_summary":"Prescribes the exact sworn-oath and secular-affirmation wording that the Australian Border Force Commissioner and Immigration and Border Protection workers must use, and repeals the 2015 rule. It takes effect the day after registration and applies to appointments made under the Australian Border Force Act, giving appointees a choice between a religious oath (with optional named text/god) and a secular affirmation."},"flash_summary_failed":{"failed":true,"reason":"A positive credit balance is required for all requests, including BYOK, so fallback providers remain available. Add credits at https://vercel.com/d?to=%2F%5Bteam%5D%2F%7E%2Fai%3Fmodal%3Dtop-up to continue.","source":"analysis-cron"}},"importantCases":[],"_links":{"self":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025","history":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025/history","analysis":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025/analysis","conflicts":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025/conflicts","importantCases":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025/important-cases","documents":"/api/acts/australian-border-force-oath-and-affirmation-rule-2025/documents"}}