The Australian Federal Police will have powers to check traveller’s identification at Australian airports under the new draft law introduced to Parliament.  

Once passed, police will be able to request identification from suspicious individuals and issue fines up to $4200 or imprisonment if not complied. 

In addition, police may remove individuals who may disrupt an imminent security threat and ban them from entering airports for 24 hours. 

Examples of suspicious activity include taking photos or videos of security check areas. 

“Police at our airports are highly trained in behavioural analysis and threat assessments,” Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said. “However, they don’t currently have the power to check ID unless they can link behaviour to a specific offence.”

“The proposed powers are commensurate with aviation security threats and will help our police protect the Australian community,” he added. 

The proposed legislation includes that “without specific intelligence that an offence has been, is being, or will be committed, AFP officers have reported that, under the current framework, they are unable to assess potential threats within airports by directing a person to provide evidence of their identity.”

Shadow attorney-general Mark Dreyfus said that the bill will be closely examined through the parliamentary joint committee on intelligence and security. 

The new legislation will apply to major airports including Sydney, Sydney West, Melbourne Tullamarine, Brisbane, Perth, Gold Coast, Hobart, Launceston, Alice Springs, Canberra, Darwin, and Townsville.