Media Release
Exposure Draft of Access Card Bill
21 June 2007
Australians will have the opportunity to participate in further consultation on the proposed access card, the Minister for Human Services, Senator Chris Ellison said today.
Senator Ellison released exposure drafts of legislation for the access card, including the Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007, and the Human Services (Enhanced Services Delivery) (Consequential Provisions) Bill 2007.
“The draft legislation will enable further public consultation over a two-month period,” Senator Ellison said.
Senator Ellison said the exposure draft addressed a number of issues not covered in previous legislation, including administrative review mechanisms (part 8); privacy issues (part 5); oversight and governance of the access card system (eg clause 198); dependants, carers and other linked persons (part 6); and protection of information (part 5).
“The access card is a significant initiative to prevent fraud and improve the delivery of government health benefits, veterans’ and social services,” Senator Ellison said.
“It’s important that all Australians have the opportunity to scrutinise the draft legislation and participate in the discussion about the access card proposal,” Senator Ellison said.
Senator Ellison said the exposure draft provided an opportunity for Australians to see the detail of the access card in its entirety and how the Government proposed to protect their privacy and secure personal information.
“My consultation to date with a large number of stakeholders, industry and community groups has indicated broad support for the principles underpinning the access card. However, there has been an understandable desire to see more detail on issues such as privacy and security which we are now putting forward,” Senator Ellison said.
“I have consistently said these concerns would be addressed in the new legislation,” Senator Ellison said.
The exposure draft states clearly the Government’s intention that access cards will not be used as national identity cards. Clause 82 of the exposure draft provides that individuals are not required to carry their access card at any time.
Senator Ellison said the exposure draft contains a range of penalties for attempts to demand the card as a form of identification (except for the limited purposes detailed in the draft), as well as protections against unauthorised access to personal information contained on the access card Register.
The exposure draft also provides considerable detail on how personal information will be protected and who will be authorised to access information contained in the Access Card System (part 5).
Senator Ellison said that following the release of the exposure draft, he will give stakeholders the opportunity to consider the exposure draft before commencing a series of round-table discussions with stakeholders, industry and community representatives to hear their views on the legislation.
“In addition, the Department of Human Services will hold a series of workshops and I will continue to take advice from the Consumer and Privacy Taskforce led by Professor Allan Fels,” Senator Ellison said.
Senator Ellison said the Government remained committed to the access card project but wanted to ensure that Australians had every opportunity to consider the draft legislation and offer their views prior to its introduction to Parliament.
Exposure drafts of the access card Bills are available from the access card website at www.accesscard.gov.au or by calling 131 792.
Media Contact: Matt Francis – 0406 052 038.