A new trial of body imaging technology will begin at Sydney International Airport today as part of a trial to take place from 1 - 19 August.

The equipment on trial today is the most advanced passenger screening technology available in the world and is part of the Government’s commitment to protecting the travelling public.

I’m pleased to have the opportunity today of being the first person to use this new technology.

The body scanner uses low-energy millimetre-waves to detect metal and non-metal items under clothing. It then pin-points where the item is hidden using a generic human outline.

The scanners are perfectly safe and one body scan emits 10,000 times less radio frequency energy than an average mobile phone call.

The machines will only produce a generic outline of a passenger which appears like a stick figure and no images will be stored or shared.

The trial is voluntary and any passengers not wanting to try the body scanner will proceed through standard screening procedures.

Trials of the scanners will be held in Sydney and Melbourne before being progressively rolled out at Australia’s international airports.

Around 13 million people fly out of Australia’s international airports each year and we have one of the safest aviation records in the world.

This new technology will add another important layer of security at our airports and is part of the Government’s $200 million Strengthening Aviation Security Initiative which is well on its way to being implemented.