With only four days until those pesky Outgoing Passenger Cards are removed from Australia’s international gateways – yes, it’s actually happening on 1 July – there’s one question everyone wants answered…
What will holidaymakers do with that extra time?
Oh sorry, two questions. What will travellers do with that extra time and how will the government collect all that traveller data?
The answer to the first is simple, jetsetters will have extra time for… duty-free shopping!
And for the second, we turn to a statement from Australia’s Minister for Immigration and Border Protection, Peter Dutton.
Although the Outgoing Passenger Card may have been a bit of a pain in the A for travellers, it actually provided the Australian government with useful insight into the types of people leaving the country and their intentions overseas.
So, according to Dutton, instead of gathering that information via the paper-based system, the government will instead use existing data.
He said re-using data as opposed to collecting new information will reduce the burden on travellers to provide the same information on multiple occasions.
“The automated process will add to existing state-of-the art passenger processing technology at our border and will help reduce queuing times and get travellers to their destination more quickly.”
Peter Dutton, Minister for Immigration and Border Protection
“Removal of the outgoing passenger card further supports the move towards a more seamless, secure and simplified border clearance process.”
The green Outgoing Passenger Card will be removed from 1 July 2017. Travellers will still be required to complete the orange incoming passenger card.