Australians to Get Compulsory Photo ID Smartcard 548
syousef writes "The Sydney morning herald reports that a new national ID card will be issued in Australia."From 2010 people will not be able to receive government health and welfare payments without a card. People may choose to have other information stored on the card, such as health and emergency contact details which, for example, ambulance officers could use.". Your papers please."
Dumb. (Score:5, Informative)
Oh - and the summary headline "Australians to Get Compulsory Photo ID Smartcard" seems to be incorrect. Quoting the linked article: My understanding is that Australia does have a reasonable health & welfare system, so thats a big carrot (stick?) to wave. But it's still not compulsory.
Re:Fritz Lang's M (Score:1, Informative)
A few points:
1) Aboriginal [reference.com] means "Original inhabitant." If you're going to use that term, please prefix it with "Australian" (lest we think you're talking about the Orang Asli [amazon.com], Samis [wikitravel.org] or other aboriginal cultures.
2) Noone is being forced to carry the card (at least noone is suggesting that yet - you will just need to possess this card to access certain government provided services.
Try not to rely on slashdot summaries - they're frequently extremely misleading.
Re:Identity Track Creep (Score:2, Informative)
Re:Fritz Lang's M (Score:5, Informative)
So put the lights out...
M - Eine Stadt sucht einen Moerder [archive.org]
Re:Dumb. (Score:3, Informative)
You need the card to get government health and welfare benefits.
If you have private health insurance or money, you don't need the card.
If you don't like having to carry an ID card, don't rely on government benefits.
no GST, No ID Card (Score:4, Informative)
Re:Dumb. (Score:3, Informative)
Re:The Letter of the Law? (Score:4, Informative)
Maybe if you had read the linked article, instead of frantically going for an apparently well thought out first post, you'd have read that it is NOT compulsory to carry the ID card in question at all times. In other words, you'll carry it when you expect you'll need it. I always carry my Medicare card and I will probably also always carry this ID card.
I am not worried about what the Australian government or police will do with this opportunity. I am however worried about the design and implementation of the technology. Regardless of whether the government develops the card and support system in-house or with contractors, they have a tendancy to fuck things like this up, with beurocratic bullshit getting in the way of proper design and implementation. Which I suppose is mostly typical of governments around the World.
I would really like to get my hands on one with some known details on the card to check it for myself. Hopefully the format of the data stored on the cards will be version numbered to allow automatic updates when needed at trusted points of use (hospitals, post offices, etc), so that the cards details can be updated to reflect critical changes in the back-end systems.
I'm an Australian (Score:2, Informative)
I'm an Australian. Most people posting comments above are not (a couple are). There are many confused or simply wrong statements being made. This new National ID card is the least intrusive attempt at one yet (there have been 2 previous attempts over the last 10 years).
So here are some answers to questions from above:
From 2010 people will not be able to receive government health and welfare payments without a card.
This statement, although true, is misleading. A MediCare card is required right now to receive gov health benefits. Welfare payments can only be paid to a person who can prove their identity and legal status. ie. birth-certificate required and "proof of age" card. This "National ID card" is nothing more than a unification of a system that has been in place for 20 years.
Perhaps the Prime Minister, John Howard is unaware that the London Bombers were all British citizens...
John Howard is a shifty little monarch who has a double-sided tongue. Before him, we had the greatest economist that ever lived, but because he was a social retard, people voted him out. Little Johnny is, sadly, now the best we've got.
Too bad you gave up your weapons
I can walk into a gun club right now (ok, when the shops are open) and order all sorts of guns and ammunition. I have to have a pretty good reason to take a gun out of a registered club though (eg. if I'm a farmer, a licensed shooter etc.). Psychopaths can't buy guns. Anybody with criminal (not property-related) felony-level convictions can't buy guns (DUI etc doesn't count). This is a good thing. We don't like small civil wars breaking out, like they do in the U.S. Besides, what good is a gun? It won't save me from having to pay taxes.
I have a Drivers License.
I have a MediCare card.
I have a Credit-Card whose every transaction over $100 gets reported to the Federal Government.
My Government does not ask me to be a certain religion. It does not ask me where my parents are from, or who I choose to call friends. It does not dictate how (or even if) I should school my children. It does not question my sexual orientation, nor judge me on it. Aside from preserving cultural heritage, it is not interested in the colour of my skin.
I am dependant on my Government continuuing to identify me as an Autralian Citizen whenever I may stand in need of help. I am 29 and I grew up with all these things. I have no problem with the National ID Card. I believe I am more free than most.
I believe I am more free than most, but more importantly; I am happy.