Aussie airports collecting Kiwi data

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Thousands of New Zealanders travelling to Australia could have "biometric data" such as facial recognition data, iris scans and fingerprints collected, stored and shared among security agencies across the Tasman.

The measures are part of new counter-terrorism laws which may serve as the model for similar legislation in this country.

The "foreign fighter" laws being scrutinised by Australia's Parliament will initially expand the use of SmartGate passport control terminals which use digital imaging and facial recognition technology. However, the bill also allows for the collection and storage of iris scans and fingerprints.

The Australian Customs and Border Protection Service estimates that between 40 and 60 per cent of the 35 million travellers - including New Zealanders - leaving and entering Australia each year would be photographed under the new law.

The department would also be able to share the biometric information for "specified purposes", although the new legislation's explanatory memoranda does not explain what these purposes are, the Sydney Morning Herald reported.

Prime Minister John Key this week announced a month-long review of New Zealand's laws around "foreign terrorist fighters" which would draw on the experience of similar jurisdictions including Australia. Any resulting rejig of anti-terror legislation could be passed under urgency before Christmas.

A spokeswoman for Mr Key, who is also Minister for National Security and Intelligence, would not comment on whether the review would look at similar biometric data collection measures for New Zealand. She also refused to comment on implications for New Zealanders under the Australian law.

Labour Party associate intelligence spokesman Grant Robertson said while New Zealanders' data including photographs was already being captured by the SmartGate system in both Australia and New Zealand, "the difference here is that you are now talking about biometric data that is used for a wide range of purposes now".

"We are moving to fingerprints and irises being used for your own devices, for entry into buildings that you work in and all of that, and so the amount of data about a vast number of people that is now being stored here and the potential for it to be intentionally shared with people without us knowing what kinds of controls there will be is clearly a concern."

NZ Council for Civil Liberties technology spokesman Thomas Beagle said his organisation was also concerned at the prospect of more capture of New Zealanders' biometric data. "We've got nothing against targeted surveillance ... but we don't like the idea of the Government collecting more and more information about innocent New Zealanders for no particularly good reason that we can see."