Stronger information sharing, stronger borders from agreement between Australia and the United States
The Government of the United States of America and the Government of Australia have signed an agreement for the sharing of visa and immigration information, bolstering the capacity of each country to confirm identities of foreign nationals.
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.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, the Hon Julie Bishop MP, said today's agreement comes at a time when strengthening national border control through the use of technology has never been more important for Australia.
"Australia values highly the information exchanges with the United States and our international partners and recognises the potential of this agreement to better protect citizens of both countries," Minister Bishop said.
The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, the Hon Scott Morrison MP, said the agreement would enable the exchange of appropriate immigration information in accordance with the countries' respective privacy and legislative provisions, increasing volumes and response times and facilitating timely immigration-related decisions.
"Increased information sharing empowers border officers through more informed decision-making, whether supporting a client's claimed identity or providing conflicting identity information," Minister Morrison said.
"As both countries work to protect our residents from emerging global threats, greater cooperation through the exchange of information will strengthen our ability to tackle cross-border issues."
