‘Resist Now Before It’s Too Late’: Senator Issues Warning on Digital ID

The legislation was introduced into the Parliament in late November, before being referred to a committee that is due to report back in late February.

The Quebec government’s vaccine passport, called VaxiCode, is shown on a phone in Montreal on Aug. 25, 2021. The Canadian Press/Graham Hughes

Liberal Senator for South Australia Alex Antic has sounded a warning on Labor’s digital identity legislation, calling on Australian citizens to resist before it is “too late.”

The Senator noted Labor unveiled details of the digital ID law in the Senate last month, describing it as a “very concerning piece of legislation.”

This comes after Labor Minister for Finance and the Australian Public Service Katy Gallagher claimed that digital ID was “not compulsory” but a voluntary way to access online services safely.

Minister Gallagher introduced the legislation for a national digital ID for Australians on Nov. 30, before it was sent immediately to a committee for inquiry to report back in February.

The government claims the Digital ID Bill 2023 provides individuals with a “secure, convenient, voluntary, and inclusive” way to verify their identity for online transactions with government and business.

‘Resist Now’: Liberal Senator

In a post to X, Senator Antic said, “we must resist now before it’s too late,” claiming the digital identity will be permanent for all Australian citizens.

In a video, the Senator urged Australians to sign a petition against the Bill, talk to friends, write a submission, and correspond with local Senators and MPs in federal parliament.

“Last month, the Labor government introduced the digital ID Bill into the Senate in the Australian Parliament,” Senator Antic said.

“And make no mistake, this is a very concerning piece of legislation. What this bill is going to do is set up a framework for a digital ID system which ultimately is going to be the centerpiece of everything you do in your life, whether its banking, whether it medical, you name it, this bill is going to control it.”

The proposed legislation provides the foundations for a “much wider” range of private sector and state government entities to use digital ID to verify customers, a memorandum explaining the bill states.

This could include banks and financial institutions, utilities and telecommunications providers, social care service providers, and state and local government authorities.

“For individuals, this means being able to interact and transact with greater speed and efficiency with a wider range of organisations and businesses,” the government said.

On Dec. 1, Ms. Gallagher said the digital ID was voluntary, adding that she was proud to have brought this legislation into the Senate.

“Digital ID is not compulsory. It’s a voluntary, secure & convenient way for you to access online services safely without having your personal documents stored by 3rd parties. I’m proud to have introduced our Digital ID Bill this week—this technology will transform our economy,” she wrote in a post on X.

But Mr. Antic warned Australians to be careful about claims the digital ID is voluntary, referencing “safe and effective” claims about the vaccines in the past.

Liberal Party Senator Alex Antic speaks in Sydney at CPAC Australia on Aug. 19, 2023. Wade Zhong/The Epoch Times

“And don’t let them tell you it’s going to be voluntary, because we’ve seen that before, safe and effective, remember nothing is voluntary forever,” Mr. Antic said.

$1.5 Million Cost of ‘Compliance’

An explanatory memorandum on the proposed law labels digital ID as a major economy-wide reform that will have significant economic, security, and privacy benefits for individuals and businesses.

The government claims digital IDs provide a convenient, “re-useable” way to verify who people are when making transactions online, without having to keep providing copies of their most sensitive ID documents.

However, under a section labelled, “compliance cost impact,” the government said the yearly economy-side cost of compliance with the regulatory framework of the legislation is about $1.5 million (US$1 million).

But this will be offset by “anticipated economic benefits,” the government said, such as $3.3 billion (US$2.2 billion) in individual time savings.

The federal government has already spent $781.9 million (US$529.3 million) on the digital ID program in the financial years 2016-17 and 2023-24, the government revealed.

Recently, the government announced a $145.5 million (US$98 million) investment over four years from 2023-24 for the digital ID system.

Australian Finance Minister Katy Gallagher and Treasurer Jim Chalmers arrive at a press conference at Parliament House in Canberra, Australia, on May 9, 2023. Martin Ollman/Getty Images

In the future, the government said progressing the bill will help the government save money, by avoiding in-person or phone-based methods.

“Progressing the Bill is anticipated to provide financial savings for the Commonwealth, by enabling increased use of Digital ID to verify and authenticate people’s identity digitally for government services instead of more costly identity verification such as in-person or phone-based methods (noting these methods will remain available for government services required to maintain alternative channels),” the memorandum said.

The government also anticipates the bill will reduce identity fraud in government services, also providing revenue savings for the Commonwealth.

Ms. Gallagher said “improving safety online” is a priority for the government and legislation will ensure “strong independent oversight” is in place to support the expansion of the digital ID system from mid-2024.

“We’ve spoken with business, community, and privacy groups to ensure the Bill will deliver the privacy safeguards, accreditation options and consumer safeguards they expect,” she said.