erg kyc

Legislation has passed the LH.
Moving to the Senate soon.
Minister Ian Campbell has resigned.

Privacy Committee still up in arms...They say it is a De Facto ID card.............


what is wrong with that......................?


Smart card privacy laws promises made

By Kate Corbett and David Crawshaw

February 28, 2007 08:56pm
Article from: AAP

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HUMAN Services Minister Ian Campbell has left open the possibility of tightening laws protecting the privacy of people using the Federal Government's new access card.

The proposed card will replace the Medicare card and be compulsory for any Australian who wants to access up to 16 other government health and welfare services.

The introduction of the card passed its first parliamentary hurdle in the lower house today and will now go to the Senate for approval.

Amid continuing concerns about its privacy implications, Senator Campbell said current laws could be tightened if the new smart card was abused.

"I am very keen to ensure that all Australians know that their privacy will be protected ... I retain an open mind in terms of enhancing privacy around the use of the card," Senator Campbell told Parliament.

But the minister said experience showed that people who exploited their position by inappropriately using other people's personal details usually got caught.

He said around 100 of Centrelink's 38,000-strong workforce had been sacked after being caught.

"If a case of inappropriate browsing of a customer's details is found by Centrelink there are procedures to identify the person. It is very easy to identify, using electronic techniques," Senator Campbell said.

But the Australian Privacy Foundation remains strongly opposed to the card and will make its feelings known at a Senate inquiry on Friday.

"We will be calling upon the Senate committee to reject the access card proposal as unjustified, unworkable, inadequate, and a potentially costly and stupid mistake," spokeswoman Anna Johnston said.

Ms Johnston said that despite the Government's denials, the smart card would serve as an identity card.

"The access card would be a national ID card by design and effect, if not by intention. The safeguards in the Bill are woefully inadequate, with six loopholes already evident," she said.

Ms Johnston said it was outrageous to expect the Parliament to accept legislation before the Government had finished working out all the details.

The Australian Democrats say they will seek amendments to the legislation to ensure 15-year-olds are entitled to their own card.

The Federal Government has released guidelines allowing minors to access the card, but has chosen not to include the guidelines in the legislation currently before Parliament.

Democrats senator Natasha Stott Despoja said the guidelines were not strong enough as they could be changed by the human services minister at any time.

"If the access card is to go ahead, young people's entitlement to it should be enshrined in law, and any future proposed changes to the age limit must be debated in Parliament," she said