Unisys and Immigration in $50m border security project

Stan Beer
Sunday, 02 July 2006 17:33

IT Industry - Deals

The Department of Immigration and Multicultural Affairs (DIMA) has entered into a partnership with systems integrator Unisys as part of a $50 million program designed to strengthen border security through biometric technology.

Unisys will deliver the technology - which allows immigration officials to authenticate an individual’s identity through facial images and fingerprinting – over the next four years. This complements DIMA’s investment in systems to store and manage these images.

Biometrics will be used at key points in the immigration process including airports and immigration detention centres. The information will be stored in a central database – the Identity Services Repository – for future identity verification.

“I want to make it clear that all personal information collected by this program is strictly protected by government legislation,” the Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister for Immigration and Multicultural Affairs, Andrew Robb, said.

“The Office of the Privacy Commissioner has been involved since the process began to ensure that the department met all the necessary requirements of the Privacy Act.”

This tender is part of the wider biometrics program and identity management strategy to strengthen border security through an improvement in the integrity of non-citizen identity information and a reduction in identity fraud.

“DIMA plays a crucial role in establishing the identity of non-citizens and ensuring the integrity of documents, such as visas, that people later use to access everyday services such as banking and utilities, so initiatives such as this are essential,” Mr Robb said.

Detention facilities will be the first to roll out these systems with other areas to follow over the course of the contract.

Subject to successful tender negotiations, a contract was expected to be in place by the middle of next month but if DIMA and Unisys cannot agree on appropriate terms, then DIMA may negotiate with one or more of the other tenderers.