IfG.CC -
Institute for eGovernment

“The introduction of biometrics to onshore and offshore visa application processing is a tangible milestone on the path to even stronger border security for Australia and is critical to maintaining the integrity of our visa and migration programs,” Mr Bowen said.

Federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the change yesterday, saying it would reduce identity fraud and fraudulent claims.

"Around the world identity fraud and fraudulent visa applications are on the rise,'' he told journalists in Sydney.

"We need to make sure that Australia's toolbox is world's best practice for dealing with this.''

Federal Immigration Minister Chris Bowen announced the change today, saying it would reduce identity fraud and fraudulent claims.

"Around the world identity fraud and fraudulent visa applications are on the rise," he told journalists in Sydney.

The National Security Research Directory is a brain's trust of hundreds of experts operating in a burgeoning list of fields across IT security, biometrics and counter-terrorism.

It includes research topic areas such as applied cryptography, physical security and "ubervelliance" — a system with the ability to automatically locate and identify individuals and predict their movements.

The move has raised concerns, with overseas student educators calling for it to be handled sensitively to ensure negative attitudes to Australia as a study destination are not compounded by the initiative.

The Immigration Department last week confirmed that biometrics would be extended from detainees and asylum-seekers to most types of offshore visa applications, including student visas.

The Government-owned corporation is secretly testing the Big Brother technology at 25 outlets after its directors approved funding for the project at a March board meeting.

If the port were to implement Maritime Security (MARSEC) Level 2, where all vehicles entering the port are to be checked, the port — which stretches 110 kilometres and hosts some 2600 ships a year — would grind to a halt.

This standard would become necessary during a time of heightened national security.

The Australian Passport Office (APO) seeks to expand its use of biometric technology, according a request for tender published today.

The APO has use facial recognition in the passport production process since 2005, but wants to enhance that capability and potentially use other kinds of biometrics, the APO said in the tender request.

Australian passports may incorporate voice-recognition and eye-scanning technology as the government looks to expand biometric identification.

Australian passports have included facial recognition technology since 2005, but the government is now investigating "other biometric technologies", according to a request for tender made public on Monday.

The move will further strengthen border security and identity checking processes, the Australian immigration Minister Chris Bowen said.

“Biometric data is widely used in the international community as an effective tool to manage visa and immigration processes, improve identity management and combat fraud,” Mr Bowen said.

Australien führt ab dem 23. Oktober als eines der ersten Länder neue Reisepässe ein, in denen biometrische Daten festgehalten werden. Die Technologie dafür liefert der südkoreanische Elektronikkonzern Samsung. Wie das Außenministerium des Landes gestern in Canberra mitteilte, liegt das Auftragsvolumen bei 32,4 Millionen Dollar. Binnen der kommenden fünf Jahre sollen alle Australier den neuen Pass erhalten.

Die Polizeibehörde des australischen Bundesstaates New South Wales (NSW) startet im Juni einen Pilotversuch mit Handheld-Geräten, die Personen vor Ort anhand der Fingerabdrücke identifizieren können. Das Projekt, dessen Kostenpunkt bei 5,7 Mio. australischen Dollar (3,5 Mio. Euro) liegt, soll den Polizisten die Identitätsfeststellung in Echtzeit ermöglichen und der Behörde damit vor allem Zeit ersparen, die die manuelle Verarbeitung der Fingerprints in Anspruch nehmen würde, berichtet das Nachrichtenportal AustralianIT.

The statement came from Electronic Information Center of the Communication and Information Technology Ministry.

'The project is being considered by ministries and state agencies of the country. The work as part of the project will start after relevant rules and procedures for issuance of new generation passports are designed. The current identity cards in Azerbaijan indicate eye color, height and blood type while there are more than 30 types of biometric indicators in world practice.