New legislation mandating increased biometrics collection powers for Australian authorities is due to come into force next February.The Biometrics Act, which covers all individuals, whether Australian citizens or non-citizens, entering the borders of Australia, gives immigration authorities greater flexibility to require biometric data and personal identifying information from all travellers, including minors. The bill aims to expand biometric data collection to include fingerprints and iris scans in order to tackle the threat of Australians seeking to travel overseas to fight with terrorist organisations.Specifically, the law provides authorities with a single broad, discretionary power to collect one or more personal identifiers from non-citizens and citizens at the border for purposes of migration.It also allows personal identifiers to be collected by an identification test or by other methods, such as live fingerprint scans using a handheld device, as specified by a border officer or the Minister for Immigration and Border Protection.Controversially, it allows authorities to collect personal identifiers from minors and incapable persons without their consent and without the presence of a parent or guardian. Minors under 15 are currently legally exempt from having to provide personal identifiers – other than height and weight measurements or photograph of their face and shoulders – under the Migration Act.

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