Home > Our Publications > Australian Outlook> 2003 > December

IT WILL be harder than ever for visitors to get into Australia during this holiday period, with tighter security at airports, on aircraft and with Immigration and Customs officers more alert at Australia's main airports.
While it is easy to apply for a visitor visa or working holiday visa over the Internet you still have to meet tough guidelines.
It may all seem simple when you log on but your details are thoroughly check by the Department of Immigration database on their mainframe computer.
If you have a serious criminal conviction, are considered a risk to Australia or have been barred from entering the country you could be on the Department's Movement Alert List (MAL).
The list is a computer database that stores details about people and travel documents of immigration concern to Australia.
The department does not mess about and currently there are more than 262,400 people entries on MAL.
People may be listed on MAL when they have serious criminal records. Other people listed include those whose presence in Australia may constitute a risk to the Australian community.
People who have been barred by migration legislation from entering Australia for a number of reasons, including health concerns, debts owed to the Federal Government or other adverse immigration records also are on the list.
MAL is automatically checked:
* by DIMIA officers who process visa applications at overseas posts and regional offices throughout Australia. If a "match" is recorded, it must then be determined if the person should be granted a visa
* as the visa grants are loaded into departmental databases. This re-checking ensures no matches were missed by the person granting the visa, and
* by Customs officers at Australian airports and seaports when passengers arrive in Australia. If a "match" is recorded, the passenger is referred to an Immigration Officer for further questioning.
In addition, MAL is automatically checked when applications for visas are made on behalf of travellers by travel agents/airlines using the Department's Electronic Travel Authority System (ETAS).
Migrants, students, people coming for temporary work contracts and other long-term temporary stay, and visitors, are all checked against MAL when they apply for a visa to Australia.
These checks are also applied to tourists and business visitors from countries where the ETAS is in operation.
The ETAS allows tourists and business visitors to apply for a visa electronically through a travel agent or airline at the same time as they make their travel bookings.
Their request for visas are automatically checked against MAL as the travel agent enters the information.
If there is any matter that requires clarification, the visa is not granted and the traveller is referred to the nearest Australian overseas mission.