Minister for Home Affairs and Minister for Justice Jason Clare today announced Australia and New Zealand will conduct a six month trial of information sharing for criminal history checks.

Mr Clare signed a Memorandum of Understanding in Canberra today with the New Zealand Minister for Justice Judith Collins.

It follows the announcement by the Prime Ministers of Australia and New Zealand on 29 January this year to improve the exchange of criminal history information.

“This is the first step in better criminal information sharing between our two countries,” Mr Clare said.

The trial will commence in July this year.

For the purposes of the six month trial, New Zealand will be able to seek criminal records from all Australian jurisdictions and Queensland will be able to seek criminal records from New Zealand.

Following the trial, consideration will be given to expanding the arrangements to enable all Australian jurisdictions to make requests for criminal records from New Zealand.

The release of criminal records will be in accordance with privacy and spent convictions requirements and will be subject to the consent of the individual.

30 May 2012