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.

中文翻译：

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在国际边界保护材料：探索尼泊尔移民到澳大利亚的生物安全措施

摘要 本文探讨了澳大利亚边境如何监控生物安全，以及这对移民的个人物品和材料的影响。通过对移居澳大利亚学习或探望居住在那里的家人的尼泊尔人的采访，我们强调了由于他们带来的材料和物品类型而经常出现的紧张局势。在抵达时对个人及其行李中的材料进行密切监控会限制食品、药品、免税商品、植物、动物、娱乐设备等的流动，从而放大各种材料可能包含的生物安全“威胁”。通过物质视角追踪第一手资料以及文化和政治影响，我们认为，某些移民所经历的审查水平存在重大不一致。本文有助于对澳大利亚生物安全和移民实践的批评，进一步了解材料如何在移民体验中发挥重要作用。