Facial recognition database would give police ‘unprecedented’ access

ACT attorney general says federal government's proposed scheme would allow police access to personal information without sufficient safeguards restricting its use

A new facial recognition database would give police "unprecedented and extraordinary" access to personal information without adequate safeguards restricting its use, the attorney general of the Australian Capital Territory has warned.

Simon Corbell met his state and federal counterparts in Canberra on Thursday during a meeting of police, justice and law ministers. The issue of the National Facial Biometric Matching Capability database was raised, with Corbell expressing the ACT's outright opposition to the federal government's scheme.