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AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program)

Current status

This bill became law on Mar 27th, 2025.

Policy area

Immigration, border & security

What does this bill do?

Australia can now run background checks for Australians applying to the United States Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill., which is the fast-track entry program for eligible travellers arriving in the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision..

Why was it introduced?

Australia joining the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. exposed a gap: Australians could not get fast-track USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. entry unless Australia could run the required background checks. This bill creates that legal authority, expands AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. to do and update those checks, and covers relevant military-court convictions.

Broader context

Australians travelling to the United States could not use its Global Entry fast-track arrival program because, although the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. required partner countries to run and maintain background checks on their own applicants, Australian law did not yet give AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. clear authority to do that work. After the Albanese government announced on 6 August 2024 that Australia would join the program from 2025 and began a capped first phase in January 2025, this bill created the legal basis for ongoing checks, allowing Parliament to clear the way for an uncapped second phase after Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. in March 2025.

Key criticism

The main reservation was that the bill may let the AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. scheme tell third parties more about a Global Entry background checkThe screening AusCheck can run on an applicant to help decide whether they meet Global Entry eligibility requirements. outcome than necessary, raising a narrow privacy and drafting concern about information sharing. That concern is reflected in a defeated Senate amendment, while the opposition said it was still checking the detail but did not oppose the bill overall.

Who supported it?

Matt Thistlethwaite MP introduced this bill. It passed on the voices.

Introduced in House 10 Feb 2025
Passed House 11 Feb 2025
Passed Senate 26 Mar 2025
Became law 27 Mar 2025

Did it become law?

Yes

Became law 27 Mar 2025

Final passage

Passed without a counted vote

Members called out ‘aye’ or ‘no’ — no individual votes were recorded.

Passage speed

45 days

From introduction to the latest recorded parliamentary step

Official record

View on APH

Parliament of Australia bill page

Meaning

What does this bill do?

  1. Australia can now run background checks for Australians applying to the United States Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill., which is the fast-track entry program for eligible travellers arriving in the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision..

  2. Global Entry background checks can be applied for by the traveller, by a parent or guardian for someone under 18, or by another person with the traveller’s or parent’s consent.

  3. Rules can now set the checks, decisions and result notices for Global Entry applications, including what advice is given to applicants and to other people about the outcome.

  4. Global Entry checks can now take account of some convictions by military courts, including past convictions, when deciding if an applicant is eligible.

Show source excerpts
  1. ; or (e) the check is of an individual in connection with the individual’s participation in the Global Entry program.
    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Act 2025 final Act text
  2. (1) The AusCheck scheme may, for the purposes of paragraph 8(1)(e), make provision for and in relation to any of the following:
    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Act 2025 final Act text
  3. (j) the form of advice to be given to other persons about the outcome of a background check.
    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Act 2025 final Act text
  4. (3) Paragraph 5(bb) of the AusCheck Act 2007, as inserted by this Schedule, applies in relation to a conviction that occurs before or after the commencement of this item.
    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) Act 2025 final Act text

Context

Broader context for this bill

Australians travelling to the United States could not use its Global Entry fast-track arrival program because, although the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. required partner countries to run and maintain background checks on their own applicants, Australian law did not yet give AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. clear authority to do that work. After the Albanese government announced on 6 August 2024 that Australia would join the program from 2025 and began a capped first phase in January 2025, this bill created the legal basis for ongoing checks, allowing Parliament to clear the way for an uncapped second phase after Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. in March 2025.

  1. 06 Aug 2024

    Australia announces it will join the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. from 2025

    Ministers said Australia would enter the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. trusted traveller programA border program for pre-approved travellers who can be processed more quickly on arrival because they have been screened in advance. in a phased rollout so eligible Australians could eventually access faster USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. border processing.

    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) explanatory memorandum ↗
  2. January 2025

    A capped first phase opens for up to 1,000 Australian applicants

    The explanatory memorandum says phase one began with Australia processing background checks for up to 1,000 people before any ongoing uncapped scheme was in place.

    AusCheck Amendment (Global Entry Program) explanatory memorandum ↗
  3. 10 Feb 2025

    Bill introduced to let AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. run Global Entry background checks

    The government introduced the bill to establish the legislative authority Australia needed to meet USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. checking requirements for Global Entry applicants and participants.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  4. 11 Feb 2025

    House passes the bill

    The House agreed to the bill at second and third reading, sending it to the Senate after clearing the lower chamber in a day.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  5. 26 Mar 2025

    Parliament passes the bill

    Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing the parliamentary step needed to expand the program beyond the initial capped phase.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗
  6. 27 Mar 2025

    Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. turns the bill into law

    Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament. made the Act law, enabling the ongoing legislative framework for Global Entry background checks and later regulations for a broader phase two rollout.

    Parliamentary timeline ↗

Legislative route

How did it move through Parliament?

House Senate
Introduced 10 Feb 2025

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 10 Feb 2025

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Second reading debate 11 Feb 2025

The bill reached this recorded parliamentary step.

House second reading agreed 11 Feb 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

House third reading agreed 11 Feb 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21/03/2025) review 13 Feb 2025

Referred to Committee (13/02/2025): Senate Legal and Constitutional Affairs Legislation Committee; Committee report (21/03/2025)

Referred to committee

APH bill page notes
Introduced 25 Mar 2025

The bill was formally presented to the chamber and read a first time, which starts its parliamentary journey.

Introduced and read a first time

Second reading opened 25 Mar 2025

A minister or sponsoring member moved the second reading, opening the main debate on the bill's purpose and principles.

Second reading moved

Senate second reading agreed 26 Mar 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at second reading, meaning it accepted the bill in principle and allowed it to continue.

Second reading agreed to

Senate third reading agreed 26 Mar 2025

The chamber agreed to the bill at third reading, which completed passage through that chamber.

Third reading agreed to

Passed both houses 26 Mar 2025

Both houses passed the bill in the same form, completing parliamentary passage.

Finally passed both Houses

Assent 27 Mar 2025

The Governor-General gave Royal AssentThe final step that turns a passed bill into an Act of Parliament., turning the bill into an Act.

Key criticism

The main case against this bill

The main reservation was that the bill may let the AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. scheme tell third parties more about a Global Entry background checkThe screening AusCheck can run on an applicant to help decide whether they meet Global Entry eligibility requirements. outcome than necessary, raising a narrow privacy and drafting concern about information sharing. That concern is reflected in a defeated Senate amendment, while the opposition said it was still checking the detail but did not oppose the bill overall.

Criticism was limited and focused on drafting and privacy safeguards, not the bill's core purpose.

Information-sharing and privacy safeguards

A proposed Senate amendment sought to tighten what the AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. scheme could tell other people about a background checkThe screening AusCheck can run on an applicant to help decide whether they meet Global Entry eligibility requirements. outcome, suggesting concern that the bill's information-sharing rules were broader than necessary and should be more clearly confined to the actual decision.

Raised by Reflected in a Senate amendment defeated on voices; the opposition also said it was still working through the detail to ensure the bill was fit for purpose. Source ↗

Further sources

parlinfo.aph.gov.au ↗

Votes

Recorded votes

How the bill itself passed

The bill passed both chambers on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage.

Passed

House passed the bill

House agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

11 Feb 2025

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Passed

Senate passed the bill

Senate agreed to the bill's third reading on the voices, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes for final passage in that chamber.

26 Mar 2025

Passed on the voices

In a voice vote, members call out Aye or No and the presiding officer judges which side has it. Individual names are only recorded if a formal division is called.

Amendments at a glance

Amendments grouped by chamber. These cards include amendment outcomes recorded without a counted division.

Senate

Defeated

Limit advice on background-check outcomes

The Senate rejected this on voices; it would have limited what the AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. scheme can say to other people about a background checkThe screening AusCheck can run on an applicant to help decide whether they meet Global Entry eligibility requirements. outcome to the decision made from that check.

Defeated on voices

The chamber decided this amendment without a counted division, so there is no list of individual Aye and No votes.

Hansard record ↗

Parliamentary debate

Who spoke, and what they said

Start here — lead voices

Sponsor speech Supports

Matt Thistlethwaite

Australian Labor Party • MP 10 Feb 2025

Thistlethwaite supports the bill and says it will give Australians access to the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. by putting the required background-check arrangements into law.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead supporting voice Supports

Andrew Hastie

Liberal Party • MP 11 Feb 2025

Hastie says the opposition supports the bill because it will make travel to the United States easier for Australians by enabling faster entry and better people-to-people and business links.

Read in Hansard ↗
Lead voice Supports

Murray Watt

Australian Labor Party • Senator 25 Mar 2025

Watt supports the bill and says it will give Australians access to the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. by creating the legal basis for AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. background checks.

Read in Hansard ↗

All speeches by bloc

Labor

2 speakers · 2 support

  1. Murray Watt ★ Watt supports the bill and says it will give Australians access to the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. by creating the legal basis for AusCheckThe Commonwealth scheme that runs background checks for certain travel and security purposes, and is being expanded here to handle Global Entry checks. background checks.
    “This Government has entered into an arrangement with the United States that enables Australian citizens to join this program, which is a sign of the closeness and trust between our two nations. Implementation of this arrangement was announced to the public on 6 August 2024 by Senator the Hon Penny Wong, Minister for Foreign Affairs at the Australia-United States Ministerial Consultations forum.”

    Australian Labor Party • Senator • 25 Mar 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗
  2. Matt Thistlethwaite ★ Thistlethwaite supports the bill and says it will give Australians access to the USThe country running Global Entry and receiving the outcome of the Australian checks for its own eligibility decision. Global Entry programThe United States fast-track arrival program for pre-approved low-risk travellers, which Australians can now be checked for under this bill. by putting the required background-check arrangements into law.
    “I want to thank the department and the staff at the department for their hand in facilitating this important reform, and I commend the bill to the chamber.”

    Australian Labor Party • MP • 10 Feb 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Coalition

1 speaker · 1 support

  1. Andrew Hastie ★ Hastie says the opposition supports the bill because it will make travel to the United States easier for Australians by enabling faster entry and better people-to-people and business links.
    “We support the policy intent of this bill. Very simply, we want Australians to have a better experience at the other end of their journey to the United States with expedited entry through Customs in the United States. Streamlined travel arrangements will benefit frequent travellers to the United States and promote better business linkages and people-to-people links.”

    Liberal Party • MP • 11 Feb 2025

    Read the full speech in Hansard ↗

Record

Full record

Full chat