Both major parties in Australia have been keen to establish
national identity schemes going back decades. However, the public
has consistently rejected them, especially once the privacy-minded
inform the broader constituency of their potential to undermine
rights and enhance social control.
The go-to example of such a scheme is the Hawke government's
failed Australia Card: a proposed system that could identify
every individual and corresponding information, via a rectangular
piece of plastic.
Indeed, so controversial did the Australia Card become that it
led to the dissolution of parliament and an early election, prior
to its ultimate rejection.
Following the Morrison government's attempt to establish a
national digital identification system, it's now Albanese's
turn. And finance minister Katy Gallagher has made clear she's
aiming to see legislation establishing an online ID system tabled
in parliament by spring sittings.
