And will it be as much of a fiasco as the UK scheme is shaping up to be I wonder?

If you wanted to define a project that is bound to go over budget, have countless serious security holes and do hamr to millions you really couldn't design it better

And the really good news if you are an Australian is that the British proposal is seen by the Howard government as something to emulate!

I would hate to think what they believe a bad ID scheme looks like.

Bugger! Another country I can't escape to.

I remember them using that excuse for ID Cards here as well, calling them Entitlement Cards. That excuse was taken out by people asking should they be rushed to hospital and not have their card on them would they be treated? If they had said no they look like nasty heartless bastards, electoral poison. If they said yes the card becomes obviously pointless. Which they are anyway.

Let's hope they can do better than the Thai government and it's subcontractor that produced an unknown number of ID cards with duplicate 'unique ID serial numbers'

Maybe the subcontractor is a libertarian.

Scott

Why do you think ID cards are so popular in Australia?

This poll shows overwhelming support for ID cards.

I haven't followed this ID card thing, but if they have a chip that stores your info, let's say fingerprints, retina scan, Athlete's foot registry, etc, doesn't that mean you need to find the same such gizmos to take your stats again and compare to that stored on the chip?
Am I missing somethiing or would this be bugger hard to actually use on any scale?

Here's what will convince me that the cards can be used safely and effectively...

Get ALL government employees, from the lowest Department of Health cleaner to the PM, on the system.

If there are no problems with the system, they shouldn't object.

Now, if a cabinet minister gets assasinated because they can be tracked with the card, well it's no real loss. If the PM's ID shows up in a petrol station holdup, well, it's obvious he's a crook, because we all know the systems perfect.

For once I'd like politicians to lead by example.

I don't actually have a problem with the system as proposed - I have absolutely no dealings with the social security office, so it would basically be a replacement of my existing Medicare card. It might also be handy as an alternative form of primary identification, interchangeable with my driver's licence and passport.

However, I do not want to be stopped in the street by authorities and asked for my ID, and run into excessive complications if I haven't got it. Carrying the card must not be compulsory.

I do not want a system whereby my ID can be scanned for anything other than its express purposes (utilising Medicare and social security services).

I do not want a central database holding information irrelevant to the limited purposes of the card.

Like most government projects, I cannot see why this is insulated from mission creep. So whilst I have no problem with the card as proposed, I see no reason to trust the government on an issue such as this. Thus, I cannot support its introduction.

James,

It is unlawful for a US social security number to be used for anything other than social security purposes in the US.

Feel free to laugh until you hyperventilate.

It was only rampant identity theft that slowed the trend toward universally mandated use of the number. In Wisconsin, they finally removed it from driver's licenses, I think. It was voluntary. UW Id's were (still are?) the person's SS number plus a digit. Even still, try to apply for any kind of financial service without providing it.

The reason identity thieves want it is it is required for so much, once they have it, they have you.

There is no such thing as a safe one-card or one issuer system.

"I cannot see why this is insulated from mission creep"

Ooohh a few yards wide of the target that one: mission creep is surely the underlying purpose here.

Midwesterner,
Spot on. The more important, and the more widely issued a card is the greater the incentive to forge it. The UK gov has convinced itself that their ID cards can never be copied, cloned, forged, whatever... Except, if I was, say, a Russian Mafia type, I'd certainly be prepared to invest a considerable sum to scam the system.

Nick M, one likelyhood is that the most prolific producer of fraudulent IDs will be none other than the government. But, entirely for security purposes, you understand.

In order for officials to protect their privacy and safety it will be necessary for them to have multiple identities, otherwise nefarious persons make track, harass or harm them. Using these uncompromisable cards, even. Ya think? Whatever the rationalization, they will do it.