New airport ID check powers ‘best practice’, but Home Affairs boss can’t say which other countries do it
Canberra: New powers to allow Australian Federal Police (AFP) officers in the nation’s airports to demand identification without cause are “best practice”, according to Home Affairs secretary Mike Pezzullo.
But he has been unable to name which countries have and use similar powers.
Mr Pezzullo has been grilled by Greens senator Nick McKim as to why the AFP need expanded powers, suggesting they already have the ability to stop and check people acting suspiciously. In announcing the proposal last week, Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton claimed the current rules were an “absurdity”, and there were too many conditions that had to be met before the Police could intervene. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull argued the “dangerous times” facing the nation were further reason for the proposal. In Senate Estimates, Senator McKim was not convinced. Mr Pezzullo said it was “best practice” to allow such measures in airports, and promised to provide the committee with comparable measures around the world. Crossbench senator Derryn Hinch said he was in favour of the new powers, given the difficult security environment. Sparring between Mr Pezzullo and Senator McKim continued, as the Greens’ legal spokesman asked whether AFP officers could walk up to anyone in an airport and say, “Papers please”.
“’Papers please’ has a particular connotation, which I’m sure you’re channelling,” Mr Pezzullo replied.
The term is often associated with officials working in a police state or under an authoritarian regime.