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Australia tightens visas in terror fight
Source: Agencies |
February 24, 2010, Wednesday
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Print Edition
Australia intends to impose tougher visa checks on people from countries considered at high risk for terrorism as part of a US$62 million counterterrorism plan released yesterday.
The new visa requirements, which include mandatory collection of fingerprints and facial imaging data for visa applicants from 10 countries, would help keep terrorists from evading detection, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in releasing the government's plans in Canberra.
"Terrorism has become a persistent and permanent feature of Australia's security environment," Rudd said. "Prior to the rise of jihadist terrorism, Australia was not a specific target. Now Australia is such a target."
Under the plans, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship would begin collecting the fingerprints and facial images this year, and cross-check them with immigration and law enforcement databases in Australia and overseas, the report said. It does not name which countries would be subject to the new requirements.
"We're not identifying those countries until the rollout occurs," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said. "There may be a diplomatic effort required in regards to some of those countries, as you would expect."
The report does, however, name both Yemen and Somalia as countries that are of growing concern to those combatting terrorism.
Opponents of the scheme include New South Wales Civil Liberties Council president Cameron Murphy.
"I am very concerned that these things pose an ever-increasing invasion of privacy," he said.
The new visa requirements, which include mandatory collection of fingerprints and facial imaging data for visa applicants from 10 countries, would help keep terrorists from evading detection, Prime Minister Kevin Rudd said in releasing the government's plans in Canberra.
"Terrorism has become a persistent and permanent feature of Australia's security environment," Rudd said. "Prior to the rise of jihadist terrorism, Australia was not a specific target. Now Australia is such a target."
Under the plans, the Department of Immigration and Citizenship would begin collecting the fingerprints and facial images this year, and cross-check them with immigration and law enforcement databases in Australia and overseas, the report said. It does not name which countries would be subject to the new requirements.
"We're not identifying those countries until the rollout occurs," Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said. "There may be a diplomatic effort required in regards to some of those countries, as you would expect."
The report does, however, name both Yemen and Somalia as countries that are of growing concern to those combatting terrorism.
Opponents of the scheme include New South Wales Civil Liberties Council president Cameron Murphy.
"I am very concerned that these things pose an ever-increasing invasion of privacy," he said.
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