The Department of Immigration and Border Protection has launched a search for conductive energy weapons, otherwise known as stun guns.

According to a tender document, the department intends to use the weapons to establish "training and deployment capabilities" for immigration and customs officers.

"Border Force are out of control": Greens Senator Sarah Hanson-Young. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

A spokeswoman for the department said stun guns were not currently used by staff and there was no immediate plan to acquire them.

"The department continually explores options to improve the personal defence equipment carried by some Australian Border Force officers to reduce the reliance on lethal forms of self-defence," she said.