This time it has allocated nearly AU$75 million towards modernising the visa processing system as part of the initial phase for developing its whole-of-government permissions platform.
The Australian government has provided more details on its plan to develop a whole-of-government platform, called Permissions Capability, which it expects to use for delivering Commonwealth digital services that require permissions. Speaking on Monday during Senate Estimates, Secretary of the Department of Home Affairs Mike Pezzullo explained that the government envisions Permissions Capability would be used for government services such as visas, import and export permits, licences, accreditation, declarations, and registrations. “Future use cases, subject to government approval, could include employment suitability clearances, the licencing of companies to import and sell illicit tobacco along with associated compliance measures to illicit tobacco, police checks, permits to import and export certain goods, Australian government security accreditation, for example, an aviation security identification card or ASIC, as well as complex visa products,” he said. The federal government first signalled plans about building its permissions platform back in July. The first cab off the rank for this new system would be the development of a Digital Passenger Deceleration (DPD), which is set to replace the existing manually processed, paper-based incoming passenger card and separate COVID-19 health declaration. According to the government, through the DPD, Australian-bound travellers would be able to provide their incoming passenger information via their mobile device or computer, while also allow certified COVID vaccination certifications to be digitally uploaded and connected if and when they become available. Read: Why Australia is quickly developing a technology-based human rights problem (TechRepublic) Acting Minister for Immigration, Citizenship, Migrant Services and Multicultural Affairs Alan Tudge and Minister for Government Services Stuart Robert jointly said the DPD would enable information to be collected and shared more efficiently, while still allowing it to use the same authority for collection. “Currently, the government collects a range of passenger information, including contact details, customs, and biosecurity information from citizens and non-citizens entering Australia using a manual, paper-based process,” Tudge said. “This new capability will strip away the need to scan paper cards.
