Providing for Australia’s Security
Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — automated border processing
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 7.3 | 11.6 | 5.8 | 1.5 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 0.7 | 14.6 | 10.2 | 10.1 |
The Government will provide $61.7 million (including $35.5 million in capital funding) over four years for the phased implementation of automated border processing.
Customs will progressively install 80 SmartGate kiosks over four years at a cost of $74.6 million, including $35.5 million in capital funding, to enable the processing of passengers using biometric passports. The use of facial biometrics will ensure more efficient processing of increasing passenger numbers and better identity verification, thereby improving Australia’s border protection.
The funding includes $7.4 million in 2005-06, $12.6 million in 2006-07, $9.6 million in 2007-08 and $9.4 million in 2008-09 in expense funding, to maintain and operate the kiosks and manage their installation.
The introduction of SmartGate kiosks will reduce the costs of processing passengers, generating savings of $12.9 million over four years. Customs’ expense funding shown in this measure has been reduced accordingly, reducing the net additional funding requirement from $74.6 million to $61.7 million.
Providing for Australia’s Security — enhanced border control systems
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Security Intelligence Organisation | 1.9 | 1.9 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Security Intelligence Organisation | 0.9 | 0.9 | - | - |
The Government will provide $9.6 million (including $1.7 million in capital funding) over four years to improve the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation’s border control monitoring activities, including through enhanced information technology systems and communications links with the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs.
This measure was announced on 5 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment National Security – The First Responsibility of Government.
Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — privacy advice and audit for biometrics
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 | 0.2 |
The Government will provide $0.7 million over four years for the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner (OFPC) to address privacy issues arising from the implementation of biometrics for border control. The OFPC will provide privacy advice, and oversee the activities of the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the Australian Customs Service and the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs in relation to the implementation of their biometrics initiatives.
OFPC’s costs will be offset by the increase in the visa application charge for selected visa categories (see the related expense measure Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — phased application of identification technology).
Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — progressive introduction of ePassports
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 11.2 | 16.1 | 17.4 | 19.0 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 11.0 | 18.6 | 20.3 | 20.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade | 2.3 | 0.5 | 0.5 | 0.5 |
The Government will provide $67.5 million (including $3.9 million in capital funding) over four years for the progressive introduction of ePassports (passports which include an electronic image of the passport holder). The cost will be offset by revenue of $70.6 million over four years, generated by increasing the adult passport application fee by $19 and the child/senior fee by $9.50.
The ePassport will be available to all new and replacement passport applicants by October 2005. The new passport will be based on the adoption of facial biometric technology in accordance with the International Civil Aviation Organization standard.
The introduction of biometrics will strengthen border protection through robust identity verification processes and reduce the risk of identity fraud.
Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — phased application of identification technology
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 3.8 | 6.8 | 5.7 | 5.6 |
| Related revenue ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 10.4 | 10.7 | 11.0 | 11.3 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 4.5 | 6.8 | 6.0 | 3.6 |
The Government will provide $42.9 million (including $21.0 million in capital funding) over four years to implement biometric technology progressively for border security and identity verification purposes.
Biometric technology, including face and fingerprint scans, will be used to enable better identification and screening of non-citizens seeking to enter Australia.
The expense and capital components will be offset by increasing the visa application charge for selected visa categories by 5 per cent. This revenue will also offset the $0.7 million over four years provided to the Office of the Federal Privacy Commissioner.
See also the related expense measure Providing for Australia’s Security — biometrics for border control — privacy advice and audit for biometrics.
Providing for Australia’s Security — enhancements to the Movement Alert List
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 7.6 | 7.1 | 7.3 | 7.5 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 5.5 | 5.0 | 2.0 | 2.0 |
The Government will provide $43.9 million (including $14.5 million in capital funding) over four years to upgrade the Movement Alert List (MAL) and improve the processes associated with its use. MAL is an electronic alert system and one of the methods the Government employs to prevent entry into Australia of people of concern. Before people are issued visas or allowed to enter Australia, checks are run against MAL, which includes information on people of concern and fraudulent, lost or stolen documents.
This measure implements key recommendations of the 2004 Review of the Movement Alert List. The review was undertaken by the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs (DIMIA), overseen by a reference group that included the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation (ASIO), the Australian Federal Police and the Australian Customs Service. Review recommendations include creating a 24-hour onshore processing centre, redeveloping associated IT systems, establishing secure means of communicating with overseas posts and regional offices in Australia, and facilitating the secure exchange of electronic data between DIMIA and ASIO.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — legal assistance
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Attorney-General’s Department | 1.6 | 1.7 | 1.7 | 1.7 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Attorney-General’s Department | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $6.8 million (including $0.1 million in capital funding) over four years to allow the Legal Issues Working Group to continue to identify shortcomings in regional legislative arrangements. This funding will provide assistance to legislators in regional countries in the drafting, passage and implementation of counter-terrorism legislation.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — improved border control in the Sulu and Celebes Seas region
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Customs Service | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.0 | 1.1 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Customs Service | 0.1 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $4.2 million (including $0.1 million in capital funding) over four years for the Australian Customs Service to work with local border control agencies to improve intelligence collection and increase monitoring of terrorist-related movements between Indonesia, Malaysia and the Southern Philippines.
This funding will improve border control at key ports in the Sulu and Celebes Seas region.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — biometric technology
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Federal Police | 5.3 | 2.3 | - | - |
The Government will provide $7.6 million over two years to the Australian Federal Police to work with regional law enforcement agencies to trial the application of biometric technology at key regional transit points.
This measure will enhance border security in the Asia-Pacific region.
Providing for Australia’s Security — counter-terrorism intelligence cooperation and joint training centre
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Security Intelligence Organisation | 4.3 | 4.9 | 5.0 | 5.0 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Security Intelligence Organisation | 0.7 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide funding of $19.9 million (including $0.7 million in capital funding) over four years to establish a new unit within the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation that will coordinate training and enhance cooperation in the region.
This measure was announced on 5 October 2004 as part of the Government’s election commitment National Security – The First Responsibility of Government.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — building regional capabilities
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australian Secret Intelligence Service | .. | -0.4 | 4.2 | 4.9 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Australian Secret Intelligence Service | .. | -0.2 | 1.9 | -0.4 |
The Government will provide $10.0 million (including $1.3 million in capital funding) over four years to enhance the intelligence capacity of regional countries. This measure will strengthen the capability of Australia and countries in the region to combat regional terrorism.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — regional border control
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 2.5 | 2.9 | 2.8 | 2.9 |
| Related capital ($m) | ||||
| Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs | 0.7 | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $11.7 million (including $0.7 million capital funding) over four years to enable the Department of Immigration and Multicultural and Indigenous Affairs to assist Asia-Pacific countries to strengthen their capacity to curb terrorist and other irregular trans-border movements. This funding will be used to increase the number of experts available in Australia and offshore to provide training and technical advice in document fraud detection and immigration intelligence.
Providing for Australia’s Security — regional counter-terrorism assistance — transport security liaison
| 2005-06 | 2006-07 | 2007-08 | 2008-09 | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Department of Transport and Regional Services | - | - | - | - |
The Government will provide $6.0 million over four years from 2005-06 to strengthen relationships with transport security agencies in East Asia, Southeast Asia and the Pacific by providing funding for two additional transport security officers in the Jakarta embassy and one additional officer in the Manila embassy. A two-person team will be established in Australia to undertake similar functions in the Pacific.
The cost of this measure is being absorbed within the existing resourcing of the Department of Transport and Regional Services.
This builds on the measure Investing in Australia’s Security — international transport security announced in the 2004-05 Budget.