MEDIA RELEASE
Costa's Bill will mean an "Australia Card" for NSW

6 April 2005
A Bill that passed through the NSW Legislative Assembly today allows 
for "an all-purpose identity card", said APF Chair Anna Johnston.

"This Bill has seen almost no debate, and no public consultation - yet
it introduces the most fundamental attack on our personal freedoms since 
the failed 'Australia Card' proposal of the 1980s" she said.

"The Government's plan is to introduce a central database to hold the
personal details of the whole NSW population. The Bill places no limits 
on how much information the RTA can collect about people, and few limits 
on who can access the data - they've even mentioned fingerprinting as a 
possibility."

"This is the worst kind of 'Big Brother' proposal. The Bill even makes
it a crime not to tell the RTA every time you move home, even if you 
don't have a driver's licence."

"One of the biggest privacy risks is from the proposal to create a
'unique identifier' for every person - the number that would be shown 
on the card. This allows both government and businesses to track, link 
and profile people's movements and transactions" she said.

"They will be able to track when you book a flight, borrow a video, 
post a gift overseas, or go to the pub."

Ms Johnston also noted that a centralised database poses greater
security risks to people, and is more likely to increase the risks 
of identity theft and identity fraud.

"The Commonwealth Government has recognised the risks of centralising
vast amounts of personal data - it is a gift to organised criminals, 
terrorists, and other people intent on doing harm. It means only one 
database to hack into, or one clerk at the RTA to bribe. Yet the
Government seems intent on creating this great honey-pot of data,
despite the obvious risks involved for the people of NSW."

The Government's proposal is set out in the Photo Card Bill 2004,
which has already passed through the lower house of Parliament without
opposition, and is set to be debated in the Legislative Council shortly.

The Australian Privacy Foundation last month published its analysis of
the Bill, and sent a copy to both the Minister for Roads Mr Costa, and 
the Shadow Minister Mr Page.

"We've actually come up with a workable alternative, in consultation
with groups like NCOSS. We believe our alternative model can deliver 
a suitable form of photo ID for people who don't have driver's licences, 
without introducing a 'Big Brother' database or a universal identity card."

"The Government has so far not budged on this issue. If the Coalition,
minor parties and independents don't force amendments to this Bill, we 
will soon be seeing an 'Australia Card' for NSW."

~ end of release ~

Source: Australian Privacy Foundation ...
http://www.privacy.org.au/Media/MR050406_NSWID.pdf

# RTA = Roads and Traffic Authority, New South Wales

Cheers, Steve...

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