• $15bn Bill Blocks Oz ID Card (?)

    From Steve Asher@3:800/432 to All on Saturday, December 17, 2005 01:42:14
    $15bn bill blocks ID card

    Steve Lewis
    DECEMBER 16, 2005

    THE chances of a national identity card are fading, with business and
    police voicing concerns over the costs and logistics of implementing
    a blanket system.

    Leading business groups say the cost of an "Australia card" could blow
    out to $15 billion, and Justice and Customs Minister Chris Ellison has
    conceded the financial impact could stymie a national approach.

    Police have raised concerns as to how effective the cards would be
    without the use of biometrics technology, involving fingerprints or
    other identifying features.

    John Howard raised the prospect of a national identity card in July
    after Queensland Premier Peter Beattie suggested such a system would
    have prevented the wrongful detention of Cornelia Rau and Vivian
    Alvarez.

    Senator Ellison said yesterday the controversial plan was still "under consideration" with some ministers understood to support the ID card
    as part of the fight against terrorism.

    [...]

    Federal and state police ministers have been working on ways to
    improve identity security as a part of their counter-terrorist
    measures.

    "We are bringing all these strands together that could make a
    difference on ID security," Senator Ellison told The Australian
    yesterday.

    However, the Australian Chamber of Commerce and Industry said the
    costs of a national identity card could be as high as $15 billion.

    The well-connected business lobby is firmly opposed to the identity
    security blueprint, arguing it would heavily increase their regulatory
    burden.

    [...]

    Full article at "Australian IT"... australianit.news.com.au/articles/0,7204,17581391%5E15306%5E%5Enbv%5E,00.html

    Cheers, Steve...

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    * Origin: Xaragmata / Adelaide SA telnet://xaragmata.thebbs.org (3:800/432)