Development of Biometrics for Border Control

The Australian Government will commit a total of $9.7 million in 2004-05 towards developing biometric technology to combat identity fraud at Australia’s borders.

Biometric technology is being investigated around the world as a means to manage borders and combat identity fraud.

Australia has a proud tradition of using leading-edge technology at the border. An allocation of $3.1 million will enable Customs to expand its automated face-recognition trial, SmartGate, to a second international airport and additional users in 2004-05.

To protect our border we must constantly review our operations. It is vital that the Government continue to enhance border technologies given increased international travel, advanced identity fraud methods and technically sophisticated terrorists and criminals.

Building on the successful SmartGate trial, Customs will extend the automated system to holders of prototype Australian biometric passports, selected passengers and enrolled aircrew at two international airports.

In addition, the use of biometrics at the border will assist Customs address passenger volume issues in the medium to long term. This technology has the capacity to enhance border security and processing efficiency.

The Australian Government will also provide the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) with $2.2 million in 2004-05 to test a prototype biometric passport for compatibility with US border control equipment.

The use of biometric identifiers will strengthen border protection through more stringent passport verification processes and will reduce the risk of passport fraud.

The possibility of terrorists and other criminals using fraudulently obtained Australian passports to enter Australia will be substantially reduced.

Previous DFAT research, funded in the 2002-03 and 2003-04 Budgets to the tune of $6.5 million, has shown that facial biometric technology is effective in detecting people who have applied for passports under false names.

The introduction of biometric identifiers into Australian passports will keep us at the leading edge of international passport technology and fraud detection techniques.

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA) has been allocated $4.4 million, which will allow it to strengthen border security and address identity fraud by researching and testing the best way to incorporate biometric technologies into Australia’s existing advanced electronic visa and entry arrangements.

In 2004-05, DIMIA will also develop a capacity to store and use digital biometric images to better identify its clients each time they deal with the Department. By strengthening its ability to identify non-citizens through biometric technology, DIMIA will be better equipped to combat the use of false identities to enter Australia.

Taken together, these steps will, over time, make it harder for terrorists or other criminals to steal the identity of an Australian citizen or travel to Australia under a false identity.

Identity fraud in Australia costs the community over $1.1 billion per annum. Enhanced identity checking using biometrics will reduce the opportunity for identity fraud to be used to obtain Australian passports, or to fraudulently enter Australia and seek access to benefits.

The Office of the Privacy Commissioner will remain an important player in the Australian Government’s development of biometric technology.

Media inquiries: Chris Kenny (Mr Downer’s office) 02 6277 7500 - Simon Troeth (Senator Ellison’s Office) 02 6277 7260 - Kevin Donnellan (Senator Vanstone’s Office) 02 6277 7860