Peter Dutton (Dickson, Liberal Party, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection) Share this | Hansard source

The Migration Amendment (Strengthening Biometrics Integrity) Bill 2015 is an important part of the government's efforts to protect the safety of the Australian community. Current legislation in the Migration Act 1958 for the collection of personal identifiers was introduced more than 10 years ago. Technological innovation now allows the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to collect personal identifiers quickly using non-intrusive scanners and other devices, yet the department cannot utilise this new technology effectively because of limitations in the legislation. At the same time, our country faces a period of great threat from terrorism and those would seek to do us harm. We must know who is coming and going across our borders. This year, 33 million people will arrive at and depart from Australia's eight international airports, and by 2020 this figure will rise to 50 million people.

The bill will replace seven existing powers to collect biometrics with a single broad discretionary power to require one or more biometrics to be provided for the purposes of the Migration Act or the Migration Regulations. The department's handling of personal identifiers collected from citizens and noncitizens will remain subject to legislative rules and public scrutiny, as is currently the case. Thousands of cases of undisclosed adverse immigration and criminal history information and cases of identity fraud have been detected by the department using biometric based checks. These checks are not available using documents.

The reforms in the bill will strengthen border controls. The reforms support the department's capacity to verify identity by providing the flexibility to respond on a case-by-case basis to higher risk individuals. At Australia's borders, the power would apply to travellers, citizens and noncitizens, who arrive at and depart from Australia's airports and seaports and is available to be exercised where identity or security concerns are detected. Most people will not be impacted by the bill and will move seamlessly and efficiently across the border. The bill strengthens the department's powers to collect biometrics quickly and efficiently with minimal disruption and intrusion for the majority of individuals. The new broad discretionary power applies to all cohorts of noncitizens, including unauthorised maritime arrivals and those who apply for protection visas.

Question agreed to.

Bill read a second time.

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