[Greens-Media] Sen. KERRY NETTLE: Centrelink privacy breaches highlight dangers of I.D. card

[Edwards, Jon (Sen K. Nettle)]

23.08.06

Centrelink privacy breaches highlight dangers of I.D. card


Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today challenged Human Services Minister Joe
Hockey to reveal details of how privacy of Australian citizens could be
protected if the proposed access/ID card goes ahead.

"Today's news that thousands of Australians have had their Centrelink
files inappropriately accessed highlights how difficult privacy is to
protect and how dangerous setting up a central database for the new
access/ID card is," Senator Nettle said.

"The access/ID card being set up by the federal government involves
setting up a central database which will store data on every Australian.
Minister Hockey has failed to explain how that data will be protected
from breaches just like the one at Centrelink.

"Australians are right to be worried about the new access/ID card system
because it is not clear who will control access to their records,
including a biometric photo and how this access will be managed into the
future.

"The Greens are opposed to setting up national ID infrastructure which
will threaten privacy and could allow government agencies and commercial
interests to track citizens' status and behaviour.

"The government hopes to have everyone using the new access/ID cards by
2010. The Greens will be opposing a national database of all
Australians' identities and call on the Labor party to join us."

Contact - Jon Edwards 0428 213 146