Chris Evans (WA, Australian Labor Party, Leader of the Government in the Senate) Share this | Hansard source

As a border security and counterterrorism initiative, the Rudd government will commence the collection of biometrics from visa applicants overseas for checking against international and national biometric databases and alert lists. Biometric information like this provides the Australian government agencies with information that can be used to detect people trying to conceal their identity when they seek to enter Australia. The initiative complements the government’s announcement in early February of an investment of $200 million in aviation security.

Under the new arrangements, nationals of any country who apply for a non-electronic visa in one of 10 selected posts will be required to attend a visa application centre, where their biometrics will be collected. The fingerprints taken will be checked against Australian biometric databases as well as partner countries’ databases. We hope in this way to make a serious effort to add to our border security measures. (Time expired)