Learning from America’s mistake in enacting the Real ID Act that has American citizens in an uproar, Australia has wisely decided to abandon its own proposed National ID Act. Their version of the Act called on government to issue an Australian Access Card. This card would have then been required to use any state services, including Medicare and social security payments, to travel and get health care, among other things.
Much like America’s fiasco of a Real ID Card in the works, the Australian version would have contained the same easily hackable RFID chip with highly sensitive personal information on it. This includes your name, date of birth, gender, address, official signature copy, card number, medical data and access information. There were also plans to add banking data and credit information as well as other personal information down the line. In fact, the language of the Act would have allowed far too much leeway in what could be added to the cards in future.
The incoming government in Australia, the Rudd Labor Government, is making a sound decision not to follow in America’s faulty, Big Brother-esque foot steps. The incoming American administration, whoever they may be, would do well to reverse their own Real ID Act as soon as possible, as it is a gross violation of privacy and personal rights. The proposal was never a popular one in Australia, and this move by the incoming government should get it started off on the right foot with the Australian people.
