Instant access to facial data

AUTHORITIES will have near real-time access to facial data from driver’s licenses, passports and visas to track down potential terror suspects under new laws set to be rushed through State Parliament this week.

The technology will establish a sharing system among all of the states and territories, formed under a COAG agreement last year.

Queensland will be the first state to pass the legislation, with it fast-tracked to be implemented in time for next month’s Commonwealth Games.

Previously it has taken authorities up to seven days to access the data from other states.

The new laws will remove the requirement for police to obtain an approval to access Queensland driver's licence images for non-traffic related offences in order to quickly match potential terror suspects.

Police Minister Mark Ryan said the benefits of the legislation were not limited to just terror related incidents.

“These services will also boost police capabilities with regard to community safety by assisting in identifying missing persons, deceased persons or human remains and victims of disaster events; in road safety by assisting in the detection of people holding multiple licences across jurisdictions; and also with identity verification to combat identity theft and fraud,” he said.

Queensland police will not be able to access other databases from interstate until they pass similar legislation.