Airport Body Scanners—frequently asked questions
Body Scanners will soon be introduced at international gateway airports providing the travelling public with the most advanced screening technology available in the world. Following successful trials of body scanners at Sydney and Melbourne airports, the new technology will be rolled out across international airports from the second half of 2012 (see media release).
It's important to remember that the new body scanner technology will exist alongside existing walk through metal detectors at airports and will provide an additional layer of security. The difference is that body scanners can pick up non-metallic items as well.
Passengers with serious medical conditions will be able to be scanned by alternative means.
The new body scanners have been introduced to provide the best possible security for all passengers.
The Government has balanced privacy concerns with our security requirements to avoid going down the path of highly invasive body searches.
- How long will it take for a passenger to be body scanned?
- People with serious medical conditions will be exempt— what are those conditions?
- Who else is exempt?
- Will this technology affect people with medical implants or devices such as pacemakers?
- Will people in wheelchairs be expected to go through the body scanner?
- How will people reliant on external medical equipment such as colostomy bags be screened?
- What if I am pregnant or think I might be pregnant?
- What about privacy? Will there be naked images of passengers?
- Who was consulted?
Body Scanner Privacy Impact Assessment [
PDF: 1083 KB]
Optimal Technologies Proof of Concept Trial Report [PDF: 741 KB]
Millimetre-wave body scanner health and safety information sheet [PDF: 87 KB]
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DOC: 65 KB]
How long will it take for a passenger to be body scanned?
The body scanning process will take approximately seven to ten seconds. Two to three seconds for the scan and five to seven seconds for the image to be generated and viewed by security staff.
People with serious medical conditions will be exempt—what are those conditions?
A person with any illness, injury or disability that prevents them from being able to stand still with their hands raised above their head will be screened using alternative methods.
Who else is exempt?
Infants and small children will not be required to be scanned.
Will this technology affect people with medical implants or devices such as pacemakers?
The body scanner will not be able to detect internal medical devices such as pacemakers and metal hips. Due to the very low power level of the body scanner, there are no safety concerns in relation to medical implants and devices such as pacemakers.
The body scanner trial conducted in 2011 showed that this screening technology is advantageous for persons with metal implants who would alarm when screened by a metal detector.
Will people in wheelchairs be expected to go through the body scanner?
No. As is currently the case, people in wheelchairs are screened using alternative screening methods suitable for their circumstances.
How will people reliant on external medical equipment such as colostomy bags be screened?
People reliant on external medical equipment may still be able to use a body scanner. Screening officers are specially trained to ensure that the dignity and privacy of passengers is appropriately maintained.
What if I am pregnant or think I might be pregnant?
Millimetre-wave body scanners use low-energy radio waves similar to those that we are exposed to everyday from various sources. The level of exposure is well within the limits set for the public, including pregnant women and children, by the Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency (ARPANSA) and is comparable to the exposure level from a mobile phone handset several meters away.
What about privacy? Will there be naked images of passengers?
Anyone with privacy concerns has nothing to worry about. The image will appear as a generic stick figure with no identifying features and no images will be stored or shared.
Who was consulted?
The Government consulted extensively with industry and privacy groups and will continue to do so.
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