Media Release: Immigration
Date: 4 December 2008
Australia delivers document examination laboratory to Vietnam
Hanoi – The Australian Government today presented a document examination laboratory to the Vietnamese Government, as part of its ongoing international capacity-building initiatives to strengthen regional border security.
“The maritime headquarters of the Vietnamese border guard command will operate the laboratory – which includes a specialised video imaging system, microscopes and light sources including ultraviolet and white light – for movements at Da Nang’s seaport,” a Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC) spokesman said.
“DIAC has previously gifted two document examination laboratories to border guards in Hanoi and Moc Bai and trained Vietnamese document examiners.
“The new facility in Da Nang further demonstrates the close relationship between the agencies.
“The facility will build on Vietnam’s existing document examination capabilities and will assist in the fight against identity and document fraud.
“The Vietnamese President, Nguyen Minh Triet, and Prime Minister Nguyen Tan Dung are regular visitors to the document laboratories and they have seen first-hand the developing skills of their document examination laboratory staff.”
The document laboratory which was opened by Australia’s Consul-General in Vietnam, Graeme Swift, is among a range of DIAC cooperative activities with regional neighbours to enhance document examination, which include:
• sponsoring foreign government officials from the People’s Republic of China, Indonesia and the Philippines to undertake tertiary study in Australia in forensic document examination
• professional exchanges in document examination with officers from countries including Afghanistan, Cambodia, Thailand, East Timor, Indonesia, Pakistan, Sri Lanka and Vietnam, and
• stationing airline liaison officers at international airports overseas to detect and deter irregular movement of people in the region.
“Assisting our regional neighbours is an essential element in managing our border security,” the spokesman said.
“Identity fraud is a global issue and possessing specialist equipment and examination techniques is crucial for enhancing the integrity of international borders in our region. ”