Western Australia Police Commissioner Col Blanch has voiced support for retailers deploying facial recognition in stores, suggesting the technology could help identify wanted offenders, including individuals on sex-offender registers. His remarks, reported by The West Australian on September 22, 2025, come as Australia’s debate over retail face matching intensifies.
The comments follow a decision by the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC) that Kmart’s use of facial recognition in 28 stores breached the Privacy Act. The regulator said the program was disproportionate and ordered the company not to reinstate the technology, a ruling that echoes earlier enforcement against Bunnings.
The OAIC’s determinations are reshaping the compliance environment for commercial biometrics. ID Tech previously covered the Kmart ruling and the Bunnings case, both of which underline the regulator’s stance.
Under the Privacy Act, biometric templates are classified as sensitive information and subject to heightened requirements. OAIC guidance emphasizes necessity, proportionality, and transparency, raising the bar for retail deployments. The agency’s expectations were outlined in sector-specific guidance, summarized in analysis of Australia’s commercial facial recognition rules.
Industry groups, including the Australian Retailers Association, argue that face matching can deter violent incidents and serial theft when used under strict guardrails. In a recent statement, the group called for a framework that balances staff and customer protection with compliance obligations, while acknowledging that the Kmart case illustrates the risks of overreach (Australian Retailers Association).
Blanch’s support may give retailers political cover to explore pilots that incorporate privacy-by-design controls, such as limited retention, narrowly defined watchlists, and external audits. Municipal authorities are also considering upgrades to public CCTV with AI-powered face matching, raising questions about how responsibilities should be divided between private operators and police. Recent developments include Melbourne’s plans for citywide CCTV upgrades and calls from the Biometrics Institute for consistent standards.
Sources: The West Australian, OAIC, Australian Retailers Association
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By the ID Tech Editorial Team
