National Identity Card By 2010?
National Identity Card By 2010?
April 27th, 2006: In just four years Australians wanting access to Medicare and Centrelink welfare payments will be required to have a new “smart card” to claim their benefits.
The card will carry and embedded computer chip that will include a photograph, ID number, signature, date of birth and address, and will also be able to store optional details such as medical and emergency contact details
Registration for the as yet unnamed card will open in 2008, after which it will be phased in until 2010. This four-year timeframe sounds very optimistic indeed, bearing in mind up to17 different, complex database systems would need to be consolidated into a single, national program. And especially considering the Government can’t get the national HealConnect system off the ground.
The “access card”, as called by Prime Minister Howard, has been estimated to cost $1 billion to implement. More estimates show that since it will eliminate 17 existing cards, it will save $3 billion a year.
Prime Minister Howard denies that the card is the insidious ID card some are calling it, however he does say that it will have enhanced security features.
Details of these advanced features and how they will be implemented are scant so far, opening up the possibility of a blowout on the initial $1 billion cost estimate.
Many are sceptical of the access card as once the infrastructure and system is in place, further “enhanced security features” could easily be added over time through upgrades. Increasing costs, and brining the system closer to being an ID card by default.
Howard says “It will not be compulsory to have the card,” however, he also says that “it will be necessary for everybody who needs a card to apply for one.”
How many Australians don’t need a Medicare Card?
What do you think about a national “access card”?
Related Article: