Services Australia used facial recognition software during the 2019-20 bushfires to help verify the identities of survivors applying for government aid.
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A senior government official has suggested the technology could be used by other parties such as charities to make it easier for survivors to apply for payments during future disasters.
Service Australia's deputy chief executive Michelle Lees told the Royal Commission into National Natural Disaster Arrangements on Thursday the agency trialled a "different approach for people proving their identity" using a facial verification service and biometric alignment on proof of identity.
The opt-in trial was rolled out across multiple states and allowed people to establish their identity in situations where they may not have had access to documents like passports or licences.
"It involved firstly explaining to the person who was making the claim what the face verification service meant, that it meant matching a photograph of their face with other identification documents," Ms Lees said.
"There was a webcam where it actually took, I guess, the image and through a portal matched it up with the other existing photographic ID, whether it be passport, visa or driver's licences."
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Ms Lees said a small number of people chose not to participate, and their identities were established through other means.
She said there were opportunities for the technology to be used in future disasters by third parties like charities delivering aid on behalf of the government.
"I do believe that there are other opportunities that would be available to us going forward and something that I believe that we should be pursuing with the Commonwealth," Ms Lees said.
The royal commission previously heard from a survivor from Tumbarumba whose claim was initially knocked back by the Red Cross because she did not have a utility bill.
Charities have also told the commission they'd had difficulties verifying genuine claims because there was no single, shared list of people impacted.
National Bushfire Recovery coordinator Andrew Colvin told the commission he believed there should be a one-stop-shop for survivors to receive aid.
"It would be ideal that a victim of a bushfire only ever needs to talk to one person and tell their story once, because every time they have to tell their story we're effectively retraumatising them," Mr Colvin said.
"You know, I attended recovery centres where I saw the overwhelming nature of the response, the generous nature of government and non-government and community organisations were offering but it was overwhelming. It was overwhelming for me to come in and see it. I can only imagine what it was like for somebody who was trying to bring their life back together."
