Australia’s Tourism Body Pushes for Border Reform Trial with New Zealand
Australia’s leading tourism authority, the Tourism and Transport Forum (TFF), is urging the governments of Australia and New Zealand to explore pioneering border reforms that would revolutionize entry procedures for travellers in both nations.
The TFF is proposing the creation of a collaborative joint task force by the conclusion of August, dedicated to designing a seamlessly integrated border system. This innovative approach aims to streamline entry processes and could potentially be implemented as a trial by the year’s end.
It said reforms could include using facial recognition technology to could do away with the need to produce boarding passes and passports, which could help reduce delays on arrival.
TFF CEO Margy Osmond said that “The smartest way to speed up passenger movement through our terminals is to remove people from queues who don’t need to be there,
Border formalities could be slashed by linking each passenger’s travel documentation to facial recognition technology. You could identify trans-Tasman passengers as they pass various points between baggage check-in and boarding their aircraft, without them needing to stop or produce passports, travel documents or even boarding passes.
When passengers drop off their bags before their flight, you could use facial recognition technology along with a digital arrivals card, which they would have already submitted, to assess each passenger during their flight.”
In a speech to the business group the Trans-Tasman Business Circle earlier this month, Australian Border Force commissioner Michael Outram said there was an “urgent need for border modernisation and investment because “critical IT systems” were dated and others were “still paper-based”.
Osmond, who welcomed Outram’s speech, said Australia was once among the countries leading the way in making border entry more efficient, having been an early adopter of smart gates at airports, and e-passports.
But “progress has stalled”, Osmond said, as she pointed out that incoming travellers to Australia are still required to fill out paper arrival cards, while New Zealand has introduced a digital form.
“This should be a thing of the past in our digital age,” she said.
Rising Apprehensions Regarding Facial Recognition Technology
Australian Human Rights Commission Highlights Concerns Regarding Biometric Technologies, Particularly Facial Recognition, Citing Risks in Critical Decision-Making Environments.
The Australian Human Rights Commission (AHRC) has expressed concerns about the potential risks associated with biometric technologies such as facial recognition, particularly in situations involving significant decision-making. The AHRC emphasizes that errors in identification within such high-stakes contexts could amplify human rights vulnerabilities.
To address these concerns, the AHRC suggests a need for legislative reforms that bolster human rights safeguards pertaining to the development and utilization of biometric technologies, including facial recognition.
While awaiting the establishment of these protective measures, the Commission advocates for a temporary suspension – a moratorium – on the utilization of biometric technologies, including facial recognition, in areas characterized by high-risk decision-making.
These recommendations are outlined on the AHRC’s official website.
A Closer Look at Trans-Tasman Relations: The Dynamic Bond between Australia and New Zealand
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s impending trip to Wellington aligns with the Tourism and Transport Forum’s (TFF) call for enhanced border measures in the Trans-Tasman relationship.
Scheduled for Wednesday, Albanese’s visit holds particular significance, coinciding with the 40th anniversary of the Closer Economic Relations free-trade agreement, the 50th anniversary of trans-Tasman travel arrangements, and the 80th anniversary of diplomatic ties. Discussions with New Zealand counterpart Chris Hipkins will encompass trade, investment, security, and defense.
During the Australia-New Zealand Leadership Forum, Hipkins lauded the bilateral trade deal as exemplary but stressed the need for ongoing regulatory alignment to facilitate seamless cross-border movement for people and good.
As New Zealand remains Australia’s primary international tourism market, the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade reported 827,000 Kiwi trips to Australia in the year leading to March. The TFF’s proposal aims to streamline these relations, calling for a joint task force to explore a border system integrating facial recognition technology, potentially eliminating traditional travel documentation and reducing arrival delays. Albanese’s visit underscores the shared commitment to advancing ties while addressing evolving challenges in the Trans-Tasman relationship.
SOURCE
- SBS News