Securing materials at international borders: exploring the biosecurity practices of Nepalese migrants to Australia

Abstract

This article examines how biosecurity is monitored at the Australian border, and the implications this has on the personal belongings and materials of migrants. Drawing on interviews with Nepalese who are migrating to Australia for study, or are visiting family who reside there, we highlight the often tense situations that emerge due to the types of materials and belongings that they bring with them. Close monitoring of individuals and the materials in their luggage upon arrival restricts the flow of foods, medicines, duty free goods, plants, animals, recreational equipment and more, amplifying the biosecurity ‘threat’ that a wide variety of materials may encompass. By tracing first-hand accounts alongside the cultural and political influences through a material lens, we argue that there are significant inconsistencies with the level of scrutiny that some migrants experience. This article contributes to critiques on Australia’s biosecurity and migration practices, furthering understandings of how materials play a vital role in migration experiences.