The governments of the USA and Australia have agreed to share visa and immigration information, as a new level of local counter-terrorism is launched as well.

The agreement for the sharing of visa and immigration information, which was signed at Parliament House today, will enable two-way information sharing between Australia and the United States.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Julie Bishop, said the agreement comes at a time when strengthening national border control through the use of technology has never been more important.

Along the same lines, Prime Minister Tony Abbott yesterday announced the Customs and Border Protection Service as begun operating at international airports in Sydney and Melbourne.

Similar units are being rolled-out at other international airports in Australia, with an additional 80 officers hired to staff them.

Immigration Minister Scott Morrison said the new units would help tackle the 10 serious border security alerts received every day at the nation’s airports.