A new report from the Australian National Audit Office discussed in the Sydney Morning Herald states that Australia should consider fingerprinting passport holders in addition to facial recognition technology. The report also raised concerns that Australian immigration officers lacked access to foreign biometric watch lists that included fingerprints.

The audit found the introduction of biometric matching at Australian ports and airports had been delayed due to rapid changes in technology and changes in departmental computer systems stemming from the Palmer and Comrie reviews. And it said the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) should also consider the need to extend the use of biometric technology in identifying foreign arrivals.

“To maximize interactions with domestic and overseas systems, particularly in enabling effective matching for watch list and other identification purposes, DIAC should assess the costs and benefits of broadening its biometric capability,” the report said. A total of $83 million was set aside to implement biometric initiatives within the department from 2003-04 to 2009-10.