The Labor government secured the required support for enabling legislation for the digital ID system in the senate from the Coalition and the Greens on Wednesday.
The legislation will establish a comprehensive, economy-wide framework for a Digital ID system which will be a ‘secure and voluntary’ method for Australians to verify their identity online without needing to disclose physical documentation.
A key feature of this bill is the expansion of the myGovID system, which currently has over 10.5 million users and provides access to more than 130 government services, but has been limited to government services only. The bill proposes to extend the Digital ID system’s reach to include state, territory, and private sector entities, including banks.
Opponents cattacked the Albanese Labor government’s refusal to put the Bill to a debate in the Senate.
South Australian Senator Alex Antic called the scenes in the Senate ‘extraordinary’. The government had ‘forced through, rammed through, the Digital Idenity Bill. It’s now passed the Senate. I opposed it, the Coalition opposed it, and we now see this Bill move on to the House [of Representatives].
‘This is really, really bad stuff. First of all, the Bill itself is bad, and in my view it will set the tone for a digital future. At some point it’s going to be very difficult for people to resist this in order to access businesses and services. At the moment the Bill doesn’t require you to have a digital ID, but we’ve heard overtures about systems being voluntary before… and we know what governments do when they get centralised control of these types of systems.’
Tonight, the Labor Government rammed through their Digital ID Bill without debate.
An absolutely extraordinary thing to do given the ramifications of this Bill for all Australians.
The Bill will now pass to the House of Representatives for “debate”. pic.twitter.com/ibJh4mHFKB
— Senator Alex Antic (@SenatorAntic) March 27, 2024
In a fiery rebuke posted on her website One Nation leader Pauline Hansen said the Bill was a ‘step too far’, as well as a ‘shocking and disgusting development.’
She said the Bill was fast-tracked through parliament with an alarming lack of debate or public consultation, reflecting what she sees as Labor’s ‘extremist totalitarian’ tendencies.
The Bill will give the government the ability to mandate the digital ID for certain services ‘whenever it deems appropriate,’ lacking clear limitations or safeguards. Hanson and fellow Senator Malcolm Roberts fear this could pave the way for a Chinese-style social credit system and increase risks of cyber-attacks, privacy breaches, and unwarranted surveillance.
Hansen pointed out the bill’s rapid progression through parliament, with just a one-month window for public submissions and a Senate inquiry that endorsed the bill despite significant opposition.
Critics, including civil liberties groups, digital rights organizations, and even the Law Council of Australia, have raised alarms about the potential for misuse of sensitive data, ‘function creep,’ and the exclusion of those lacking digital literacy.
Started out as a penal colony? You don’t say… 🤔
Australia going back to its convict roots, only this time the wardens are the DAVO’s elites….