A national Australian database used to check criminal histories could soon include people convicted of crimes in New Zealand.
The move comes after Queensland public servant and New Zealand national Hohepa Morehu-Barlow allegedly scammed $21 million from Queensland Health. It has been reported that Morehu-Barlow has a criminal history in New Zealand.
Background checks via the Australian federal government's CrimTrac national database are limited to Australian jurisdictions only, but Queensland Premier Anna Bligh has spoken with Prime Minister Julia Gillard and New Zealand Prime Minister John Key to discuss how they can work together to include New Zealand's criminal records database on it.
Australian criminal records would also be made available to New Zealand authorities under the plan.
- AAP
