Border protection officers to carry guns from new year

Customs officers will carry guns from 2015, federal Immigration Minister Peter Dutton has announced.

The minister's first press release in his new position said border protection officers will be equipped with "personal defensive equipment" from the new year.

He said the government was serious about border protection, and cracking down on drug smugglers and gangs.

"This measure will not only increase the capability of our future Border Force officers, it will also add another layer of deterrence at our borders, and will ensure that the travelling public is as safe as possible," Mr Dutton said.

He said customs officers would need to be better-trained and better-equipped to deal with the more "complex" challenges of border protection in the future.

Mr Dutton succeeded Scott Morrison as Immigration Minister during the recent Cabinet reshuffle.

Previously he was Health Minister.