Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

My question is to the Minister representing the Minister for Home Affairs, Senator Murray Watt. Recent reporting suggests the Australian government may be negotiating an enhanced border security partnership with the United States which could allow US agencies, including ICE, access to Australians' biometric data and identity records as a condition of maintaining access to the visa waiver program. Can the minister confirm whether the Albanese government has agreed to share Australians' biometric information, including facial images, fingerprints or identity document data, with the United States government?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Payman. I don't have any information about that one way or another, so, if there's anything that I can provide the senator with, I will come back to the chamber and do so.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, first supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

While you're at it, I'd also like to know, if there isn't any agreement made, if such negotiations are underway, because Australians want to know what legal safeguards and limits are in place to prevent US authorities from accessing their biometric data. How will the government ensure the agencies like ICE cannot use Australians' personal data for domestic immigration enforcement in the US?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Thanks, Senator Payman. Since your first question, I've got a little bit of information here. I gather some of these allegations were made in a Crikey article about a month ago. I'm not sure if that was the source of your questions. What I can tell you is that I'm advised that the Department of Home Affairs does not share with the United States the biometric data of Australian citizens applying for a US visa. The Australian government has not made any commitments regarding an enhanced border security partnership with the United States. This requirement was introduced by the United States in 2022 for visa waiver program countries. That's the only information that I have.

Sue Lines (President) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Senator Payman, second supplementary?

Fatima Payman (WA, Australia's Voice) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Given the serious privacy implications, it's obviously good to hear that we haven't committed to anything, but, Minister, will you commit to tabling the agreement or any negotiations or conversations around the privacy impact assessments and governing data-sharing framework before any arrangement takes effect, so Australians know exactly what personal information may be shared with foreign governments?

Murray Watt (Queensland, Australian Labor Party, Minister for the Environment and Water) Share this | Link to this | Hansard source

Well, I'm not able to do so, because no such agreement has been made. All I can do is repeat that the Department of Home Affairs does not share with the United States the biometric data of Australian citizens applying for a US visa, and we have not made any commitments regarding an enhanced border security partnership with the United States.