Push for National Digital ID in Australia Making ‘Progress’: Minister

A woman checks her EU Digital COVID certificate on her mobilephone at El Prat airport in Barcelona on July 1, 2021. PAU BARRENA/AFP via Getty Images

A national ID in Australia will be legislated “late this year” or “early next year” according to the new chair of an Australian government ministerial panel for digital ID.

Finance and Australian Public Service Minister Katy Gallagher met with the newly established panel on Oct. 23 and said progress was being made on incorporating digital ID into Australia’s systems.

Victor Dominello, who is the former New South Wales Minister for digital government, is chairing the fresh panel.

In a recent LinkedIn post, Ms. Gallagher exclaimed there is “progress on digital ID” and set out the details of the new panel.

“Today, I met with the newly appointed Ministerial Digital ID Expert Panel who are providing independent advice on the expansion of Australia’s Digital ID System,” Ms. Gallagher said.

“This panel will play an important role in the government’s commitment to legislate a Digital ID system that is secure, convenient, voluntary, and inclusive.”

The panel will also include former Australian privacy commissioner Malcolm Crompton, First Nationals digital inclusion advisory group chair Dot West, and former head of Australia Post digital ID Margo Stephen.

The new federal panel is expected to provide independent advice on digital ID plans to the Federal Government.

Discussing it further, Ms. Gallagher said digital ID was about “fostering economic growth,” “enhancing productivity,” and providing the “highest standard of security.”

“I’m keen to work with this panel and draw on their expertise to maximise the benefits of Digital ID for individuals and businesses across the country,” Ms. Gallagher said.

The chair of the Federal Ministerial Digital ID Expert Panel Mr. Dominello posted on Facebook that he was “honoured” to serve as chair.

The former NSW Digital Government Minister said the digital ID will “empower” individuals with “more control” over their personal information through increased privacy, security, and service delivery options for the people of Australia.

Mr. Dominello claimed recent data breaches at Optus, Lattitude, and Medibank have shown sharing paper copies of our passport, drivers licence, medicare or birth certificate is an “over-share” of personal information.

Elaborating on the progress of the digital ID, Mr. Dominello said a draft digital ID bill had been “exhibited” and will be introduced at the “end of this year or early next year.”

What’s the Deal With Digital ID?

The government consulted the public and industry on a draft Digital Identity Bill 2023 from Sept. 29 to Oct. 10.

The proposed legislation would create a national regulated digital ID that is accessible in both the public and private sectors. The government claims the digital ID would have “strong privacy provisions.”

In July, Ms. Gallagher said the plan is to roll out the national digital ID by mid next year.

“If all things line up and we’re able to move pretty swiftly, we could have legislation in place mid-year next year. That’s a pretty tight timeframe, so I don’t want to be held to that. But that’s kind of my roadmap,” Ms. Gallagher said on July 25.

The minister said 10 million Australians already are using MyGov ID so the system is already in place, but it was not regulated.

“We’ve got the system; it’s just not regulated and not in a shape, I think, that will allow us to drive it forward and give the interoperability and the economy-wide benefits that come from having a national system, but we’re very committed to it,” Ms. Gallagher said.