Australian Parliament Passes National Digital ID Law

An image of the phone app and front page to Australia's MyGov ID (digital ID) portal and website, taken in Perth, Western Australia on Jan. 22, 2024. (Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times)

Australia’s House of Representatives has passed the national digital ID bill, which will embed the new online identification program into law.

The digital ID is supposed to replace the need for physical IDs, and is linked with government services such as MyGov, Centrelink, Medicare, and the Australian Tax Office (ATO).

The government has allocated $288.1 million (US$197 million) from the federal budget to roll out the program.

On May 16, the Digital ID Bill 2024 received support from the Labor government, the left-wing Greens, and “Teals,” but was opposed by the Liberal-National Opposition. It already passed the Senate in March.

Live minutes from the nation’s lower house showed 87 members of Parliament voting in favour of the Bill, with 56 members voting “no.”

A day earlier, the legislation was sent to the smaller Federation Chamber for debate, before landing back in the House for a final vote.

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During the Chamber debate, Nationals MP Pat Conaghan said voters in his electorate were concerned about the digital ID.

“They have concerns about privacy, government intervention and their freedoms. Just because I’m out the back of the bush in halls and in the corners of pubs doesn’t mean that it’s the tinfoil-hat brigade coming to see me to raise their concerns,” he said.

“These are mums and dads, grandmothers and grandfathers, business owners and farmers. Every day people out there are coming to talk to me about their concerns.”

However, Labor MP Graham Perrett argued the legislation was overdue, secure, and “fully voluntary.”

“If you have a digital ID, you have a secure and convenient way to verify your identity when using online services. A digital ID takes the place of identifying yourself via traditional methods such as your birth certificate, your passport or your driver’s licence,” he said.

The Labor government has maintained that the digital ID would be a convenient and voluntary way to verify identities online without having to repeatedly share sensitive documents.

Private businesses will be able to join Australia’s digital ID system within two years of the law being enacted, according to the government.

Individuals Could be Forced onto the Program: Senator

Previously, Liberal Senator Alex Antic raised concerns the Digital ID Bill would not remain voluntary, pointing to exceptions outlined in the Bill.

The example given (pdf) states that, “Jacob wants to open a bank account with ABC Bank but he does not wish to use his digital ID to do so.

“Because Jacob can verify his identity by going to his nearest branch instead, ABC Bank does not contravene subsection (1).”

Senator Antic said this would compel many people to set up a digital ID because physical bank branches are now closing at a quick rate.

Another area of concern for Mr. Antic was that a “digital ID regulator” could grant an exemption where they were “satisfied that it is appropriate to do so.”

“That’s hardly comforting. It’s simply up to the regulator, to determine whether making a digital ID mandatory is appropriate or not,” the senator said.

Meanwhile, One Nation Senator Malcolm Roberts has previously warned the digital ID could work in tandem with the Misinformation Bill, and digital currency, to create a “social credit” system akin to that used in China.

“What you can see here is a framework for a social credit system. Complete control of every citizen of Australia. Whether you like it or not,” Mr. Roberts said.

However, Labor Senator Katy Gallagher has maintained that the digital ID would be a safe way for Australians to operate online.

“Australians will be sharing less personal information, which is held by fewer organisations, that are subject to stronger regulation—reducing the chance of identity theft online,” she said.

“It’s the Albanese government that is delivering a scheme which is safe, voluntary and will protect Australians in an increasingly online world.”

In addition, the Digital ID (Transitional and Consequential Provisions) Bill 2023, which deals with matters arising from the principal Digital ID Bill 2024, also passed the House of Representatives on May 16.