Govt to reintroduce smartcard bill The federal government will reintroduce its controversial smartcard bill into parliament in June, and wants it to come into use next year. The access card is intended to replace the Medicare card and other benefits cards, streamlining access to a wide range of government health and welfare services. The original bill was put on hold after a Senate committee last week warned the card was likely to become a de facto identity card. Addressing a forum on smartcard technologies, Human Services Minister Chris Ellison said the new access card package would take care of concerns over protection and privacy of its users.
"There is no compulsion to use it as a national ID card," Senator Ellison said. The senator said the two bills originally presented for implementing the smartcard would now be rolled into one. Critics have rung alarm bells about the privacy implications of the card, which will carry the holder's name, photograph, contact details and digitised signature. These elements will be stored on a central register.
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