Australia Minister for Immigration and Border Protection: Australia to introduce world leading borde

The Turnbull Government has entered into a contract with Vision-Box Australia Pty Ltd to deliver a world leading automated and 'contactless traveller' clearance process for people arriving in Australia by air.

The three year contract, valued at $22.5 million, will deliver upgraded biometric technology, enabling the Department of Immigration and Border Protection to use biometric data to clear passengers arriving at Australian international airports.

It will also deliver a new capability that will eventually enable known travellers to self-process through the border without producing their passport, relying wholly on facial recognition technology.

The Minister for Immigration and Border Protection Peter Dutton said that this project is yet another step towards 'contactless traveller' processing and again reinforces the Government's commitment to protecting Australia's borders and offering a seamless arrivals experience for travellers.

"Australia is committed to being a world leader in the use of biometrics at our border to facilitate legitimate travel, protect our community and prevent the activities of potential terrorists and criminals," Mr Dutton said.

"The Government's investment in advanced state-of-the-art biometric systems continues to enhance existing border automation measures and further improves the efficiency and speed of border processing for legitimate travellers, who represent the vast majority of people crossing Australia's border."

This investment is part of the Government's broader $123.6 million investment in improving the experience for passengers at our border.

An average of 40 million passengers and crew are cleared through the border at Australian airports each year and this number expected to rise to 50 million by 2020.