As reported by Australian Minister for Justice and Customs Chris Ellison, the new installation costing about $1.2 million, which uses technology to scan the photo on the passport while simultaneously comparing its characteristics with the face of the passport holder standing in front of the machine, replaces the functions of customs and border officers, and does so significantly faster than the current visual verification, as well as with greater accuracy and objectivity.
Australian authorities said that for now the installation will operate in test mode only for members of flight crews of Australian airlines, and from 2004 machine passport verification will be extended to foreign pilots, after which automated passport control will take no more than 10 seconds per person.