Aviation Security Identification Card
Encyclopedia
An Aviation Security Identification Card (ASIC) is an Australian identification card that shows that the holder of the card has undergone a security check and is suitable to enter a secure area of an Australian Airport. Security checks are performed by AusCheck (part of the Attorney General's Department
) and include a criminal records check undertaken by the Australian Federal Police
, a security assessment conducted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
(ASIO) and an unlawful non-citizen check conducted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). An ASIC is required for all personnel working at a security controlled airport in Australia. Personnel requiring access to a secure airport who are under the age of 18 are required to display an ASIC however issuing bodies can not apply for a security check. An ASIC has to be renewed every two years except for someone who has applied for an ASIC before they turned 18 in which case an ASIC is valid until 6 months after the person's 18th birthday. Only people with an operational need to enter a secure airport may apply for an ASIC. The goal of the ASIC is not just to prevent terrorist activities at airports but to ensure aircraft, equipment and facilities can not be tampered with.
An ASIC must be returned to the issuing body within one month after
A holder must notify an issuing body:
Notification must be in the form of a statutory declaration or police report.
The ASIC must also be displayed in an approved ASIC holder. It is provided on first issue with the ASIC in most cases.
If someone has an invalid ASIC, incorrectly displays or misuses an ASIC, they may be fined or prosecuted.
The most common type of ASIC is bright red (suitable for entrance to Security Restricted Areas (SRA) and secure areas), however there are also grey variations (secure areas). ASIC Security features include:
Attorney-General of Australia
The Attorney-General of Australia is the first law officer of the Crown, chief law officer of the Commonwealth of Australia and a minister of the Crown. The Attorney-General is usually a member of the Federal Cabinet, but there is no constitutional requirement that this be the case since the...
) and include a criminal records check undertaken by the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
, a security assessment conducted by the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
(ASIO) and an unlawful non-citizen check conducted by the Department of Immigration and Citizenship (DIAC). An ASIC is required for all personnel working at a security controlled airport in Australia. Personnel requiring access to a secure airport who are under the age of 18 are required to display an ASIC however issuing bodies can not apply for a security check. An ASIC has to be renewed every two years except for someone who has applied for an ASIC before they turned 18 in which case an ASIC is valid until 6 months after the person's 18th birthday. Only people with an operational need to enter a secure airport may apply for an ASIC. The goal of the ASIC is not just to prevent terrorist activities at airports but to ensure aircraft, equipment and facilities can not be tampered with.
Obligations
ASIC holders are required to follow specific conditions otherwise they risk losing their ASIC or even face Federal Prosecution.An ASIC must be returned to the issuing body within one month after
- It expires
- Is canceled
- Has been damaged, altered or defaced
- You no longer have an operational need to enter a secure area.
A holder must notify an issuing body:
- Within seven days, if your ASIC is lost, stolen or destroyed
- Within 30 days, if you change your name
- Within seven days, if you are convicted of an aviation-security relevant offence
Notification must be in the form of a statutory declaration or police report.
Wearing an ASIC
There are strict regulations regarding the wearing of an ASIC. An ASIC must always be properly displayed when the holder is in a relevant secure area. The ASIC must be:- Above waist height
- At the front or side of his or her body
- With the whole front of the ASIC clearly visible.
The ASIC must also be displayed in an approved ASIC holder. It is provided on first issue with the ASIC in most cases.
If someone has an invalid ASIC, incorrectly displays or misuses an ASIC, they may be fined or prosecuted.
ASIC Features
An Aviation Security Identification Card comes with very noticeable features to make it obvious to the eye, but also to protect from fraud.The most common type of ASIC is bright red (suitable for entrance to Security Restricted Areas (SRA) and secure areas), however there are also grey variations (secure areas). ASIC Security features include:
- A large mugshot of the ASIC holder to clearly identify them.
- The area the ASIC is valid, typically an individual airport such as SYD or MEL, or if Australia wide, the prefix AUS.
- The holders name and Aviation Reference Number (ARN).
- A silver Holographic strip with the word 'ASIC' cleary printed and the outlines of an aircraft and Australia.