Biometrics is to be used to further strengthen border security and identity checking processes in Australia, which could interest those seeking to migrate to the country legally.
Australian immigration and citizenship minister Chris Bowen said that the biometric data, which involves the capture of a digital facial image and a ten-digit fingerprint scan, will help the country's authorities to combat fraud.
He said that the introduction of biometrics to onshore and offshore visa application processing is "critical to maintaining the integrity of our visa and migration programmes".
Biometric acquisition stations are present in a number of locations, including Department of Immigration and Citizenship offices in Adelaide, Brisbane, Cairns, Darwin, Hobart, Melbourne, Perth and Sydney.
At the end of last month, the start of the Queensland State Migration Plan was announced by two Australian MPs - Mr Bowen and Queensland treasurer and minister for employment, economic development and innovation Andrew Fraser.
Posted by Steve Douglas
