AusCheck

On 5 December 2005, the Government agreed to the establishment of a centralised background checking agency—now referred to as AusCheck—as a division within the Attorney-General’s Department. 

AusCheck is responsible for identifying individuals who should not be eligible for an Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) and/or a Maritime Security Identification Card (MSIC) by applying a consistent interpretation of the statutory requirements and coordinating background, criminal and security checks on applicants, and for notifying the relevant Issuing Bodies of the outcome of these checks.

These background checks were previously processed and coordinated by the Background Checking Unit of the Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Local Government.

Scope

AusCheck has been established to:

• enhance national security by establishing greater and more conspicuous control by government of security arrangements at air and sea ports
• maintain a database of up-to-date information on persons who apply for, and are ultimately issued with, an ASIC and/or MSIC
• mitigate the risk of ASICs and MSICs going to ineligible persons by preventing the use of fraudulent proof of identity documents to support the issue of an ASIC or MSIC
• reduce duplication and improve the consistency and response time of background checking in the aviation and maritime industries, and
• provide capacity to be used for other background checking purposes.

AusCheck maintains a comprehensive database of all applicants and cardholders for the aviation and maritime industries and operates on a cost recovery basis.

AusCheck

Phone: (02) 6228 2828
Fax:     (02) 6280 7084
E-mail: AusCheck@ag.gov.au