ID scanners in Sydney venues delayed after failure to find suitable operator
|
Version 0 of 1. The introduction of identity scanners in the bars and nightclubs of Sydney’s Kings Cross has been pushed back as the search continues for a suitable operator of the technology. The scanners are being introduced in 35 venues deemed at “high risk” of violent incidents. They are intended to ensure that customers who are kicked out of venues in the area cannot enter any of the other ones linked up to the system. Everyone who enters the “high risk” venues will have their name, date of birth, photograph and possibly their address stored despite concerns about privacy being raised in the community. Hospitality minister George Souris announced last month that the scanners would be introduced on 6 December. However, they will not be rolled out in the suburb this weekend. Souris’ office directed questions to the the NSW Office of Liquor, Gaming and Racing which said that a new intended date for introducing the scanners had not be set. A spokesman said a “comprehensive” examination was underway to find an operator of the ID scanning system. “The legislation provides significant requirements to ensure that the ID scanner operator is able to meet all of the legislative safeguards,” the spokesman said. “This requirement under the new laws ensures that there are three essential verifications to ensure integrity of the system and its operator.” The types of ID patrons of the venues will have scanned will be determined when the operator is appointed. ID scanners have been rolled out in other parts of Australia, including the party precinct known as the Valley in Brisbane. Chairman of the Valley Liquor Accord, Nick Braban, said while he thought they had an overall positive effect there had been issues with scanners failing to recognise IDs and allowing banned patrons into venues. “It has assisted police in picking up offenders and instituting bans, though the discussion around privacy and maintaining the database has been the major hurdle to public acceptance,” he said. “In my opinion there is not much difference in going to the video store and handing over your licence as part of the application to rent movies there. “If you have nothing to hide then you shouldn’t have a problem with it.” Braban said though there would always be technology issues he believed the system could be more effective if it could store more information such as licence numbers. He proposed having ID chips linking back to a database held by the police or transport department to alleviate concerns about privacy. ID scanning has been met with scepticism and criticism by civil libertarians and privacy commissioners. The privacy commissioners of New South Wales and Queensland referred Guardian Australia to the Commonwealth privacy commissioner when asked about the operation of the ID scanners, though comment was unable to be provided within 48 hours. The Commonwealth commissioner was also unable to provide statistics on how many, if any, complaints had been made to the commission about breaches of privacy to do with ID scanners. The scanners are being introduced in an attempt to curb violence in Kings Cross. The initiative was announced by the state government in the wake of the death of Thomas Kelly who was king hit while walking through the suburb. The operator of the system which stores the data will have to be approved by the director general of NSW trade and investment, in concurrence with the police commissioner. The venues involved are not supposed to have access to the date, which will be deleted after 30 days. If a staff member is found misusing someone’s data their only guaranteed punishment will be a cancellation of their competency card which means they will be unable to work in any of the venues. There will be a review of the system a year after it launches. Our editors' picks for the day's top news and commentary delivered to your inbox each morning. |