The tourism industry is looking to introduce reforms that would fast track immigration laneways for Australians and New Zealanders.
These reforms would mean travellers don’t have to stop and produce passports, travel documents and boarding passes when crossing the pond.
The Tourism and Transport Forum (TTF) has called on the trans-Tasman twins (our wording, not theirs) to trial new entry and screening tech. Among this tech includes digital arrival cards, rather than paper ones, and facial recognition technology.
Margy Osmond, the CEO of TTF, said the Aus-NZ border should be trialled for a “seamless” test case of what international travel could be.
“It’s about having laneways for Australian-New Zealand travellers that are easier and quicker,” Osmond said.
“Border formalities could be slashed by linking each passenger’s travel documentation to facial recognition technology. You could identify trans-Tasman passengers as they pass various points between baggage check-in and boarding their aircraft, without them needing to stop or produce passports, travel documents or even boarding passes.
“When passengers drop off their bags before their flight, you could use facial-recognition technology along with a digital arrivals card, which they would have already submitted, to assess each passenger during their flight.”
To tackle the issue, TTF wants to establish a joint task force. Osmond said this taskforce of experts should ultimately decide the most suitable reforms for Australia to implement, but could consider a broad range of sweeping changes.
“There’s benefits for both sides of our border and from an Australian point of view, whatever this group comes up with could therefore be applied and integrated into the work that obviously Border Force wants to do with countries all over the world,” she said.
This comes as Anthony Albanese will fly across the ditch to meet NZ Prime Minister Chris Hipkins for the annual Australia-New Zealand leaders’ meeting this week. The pair will discuss an array of issues, including trade and investment.
Featured Image: Hands giving Australian passport (iStock/Atstock Productions)
