Australian customs porn searches baffle travellers

Travellers visiting Australia are being asked different questions depending on the card they are given by immigration officials. The Government had pushed through the change in November last year, altering the first question on the Incoming Passenger Cards to ask travellers if they were carrying pornography. Those answering "yes" will have their material examined by customs officials.

The change was labelled as "sneaky" and an "invasion of privacy" when revealed last week. However the question is not being asked of all travellers, with an immigration spokesman saying there is no way of knowing how many cards are in use at any one time. Older cards may be being used by travel agents and other operators beyond the large airlines.



The issue of bringing porn across the border was first raised by the Australian Sex Party who said many travellers will be embarrassed by the "invasion of privacy". “Is it fair that customs officers rummage through someone’s luggage and pull out a legal men’s magazine or a lesbian journal in front of their children or their mother-in-law?” party leader Fiona Patten said. "If you and your partner have filmed or photographed yourselves making love in an exotic destination or even taking a bath, you will have to answer ‘yes’ to the question or you will be breaking the law.”

Ms Patten said some travellers had not been asked to declare porn this year. "I've had reports from people who have not had that question when they've come into the country in the past four weeks, but I've also had people confirm that they were asked that question." A Customs and Border Protection spokesperson said the change was because the term “pornography” was more recognisable to travellers than the term “objectionable material”.