The new 'M-series' passports, to be introduced from next month, contain a range of enhancements -- including hard-to-copy laminated 'floating kangaroos' on a re-positioned data page -- designed to complement tougher proof of identity and change of name requirements on redesigned passport application forms.
However, the passports do not yet contain a machine-readable biometric identification feature, which residents of nations currently participating in the U.S. visa waiver program must have in order to enter the U.S. under the program from late October 2004.
The federal government has said it plans to include the feature in Australian passports by late next year.
Passports Australia has been developing and testing the biometric technology in parallel with recent limited trials of facial biometric equipment at Sydney's Kingsford-Smith Airport.
The announcement is bound to bring recent trials of facial recognition technology by the Australian authorities under more scrutiny.
The Minister for Foreign Affairs, Alexander Downer, said the new passports would help reduce identity fraud, which he claimed costs Australian around AU$4 billion per year. This is a substantial increase over the number quoted in a report by the Securities Industry Research Centre of the Asia Pacific -- recently released by the Minister for Justice and Customs, Senator Chris Ellison -- which put the cost to Australia of identity fraud at AU$1 billion per year.
"The M series was designed and manufactured by Note Printing Australia," said Downer. "Quality-assurance equipment will be supplied by a small ACT-based company, Dynjab. Another Australian company, Alphawest, will provide IT support."
Downer also announced that passport application forms would now be available online, although for security purposes they would still have to be lodged in person at an Australia Post outlet, passport office or overseas post.
However, applicants using the online service will be able to change information previously provided, such as the delivery address and preferred method of dispatch, as well as pay the priority processing fee online.
"The enhanced online service will also allow passport holders to view their own details, report their documents lost, stolen or missing in the mail and exchange information with the Australian Passport Information Service 24 hours a day, seven days a week," said Downer, adding the applicant would need to identify themselves to the system before obtaining access to passport information.
