Australia Card
Encyclopedia
The Australia Card was a controversial proposal for a national identification card
for Australian citizens and resident foreigners. The proposal was made in 1985, and abandoned in 1987.
The idea for the card was raised at the national Tax Summit in 1985 convened by the then Federal Labor
government led by Bob Hawke
. The card was to amalgamate other government identification systems and act against tax avoidance
and health and welfare rort
s. The government introduced legislation in the parliament
in 1986, but it did not have a majority in the Senate
and was repeatedly blocked by the opposition and minor parties.
In response, Hawke asked the Governor-General
Sir Ninian Stephen
for a double dissolution, which was granted in June 1987, followed by an election on 11 July. The government was returned, but still without a majority in the Senate. Nevertheless, the legislation was reintroduced, only to be blocked in the Senate once more. The constitutional criteria for a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives had now been met. Hawke started making plans for a joint sitting, at which the legislation would have been assured of passage due to the dominance of the Labor Party in the parliament overall. However, a retired public servant Ewart Smith noticed a flaw in the drafting of the legislation that nobody in either the government or the opposition had noticed. Even if the bill had been passed by the parliament, there was still no likelihood the Australia Card could be introduced, because certain regulations necessary for the functioning of the system required the concurrence of the Senate, which was hostile to the Card. It is not clear that this flaw was fatal to the scheme, but the government did at that point abandon the idea. It may well have been a convenient face-saving way out of the situation, because by that time very significant popular opposition had arisen from widely disparate groups, although the Australia Card had not figured particularly prominently in the election campaign.
Following the shelving of the Australia Card, the Federal Government introduced a new identification system known as a Tax File Number
. This unique number, in many ways analogous to the United States Social Security Number, was a means of identifying and cross-referencing benefits received and tax paid by individuals.
The Australia Card proposal was, and is still, the subject of strong views. The proposal was either an egregious intrusion into individuals' privacy, giving bureaucrats enormous power; or it was an efficient and evolutionary step for a technological age, combating fraud. And its defeat was either a triumph of citizens acting to protect their rights; or irrelevant in the end due to the expansion of other identification systems and data matching.
The Australia Card proposal resurfaces every so often. Most recently, figures within the Liberal Party of Australia
- which opposed the card in the 1980s - have voiced support for a national identity card. The Australia Card, say some, would help the government to combat terrorism and address flaws in the immigration system.
Plans to expand the capabilities of the ubiquitous Medicare card
were announced in 2005 by then Human Services Minister Joe Hockey
. The Health and social services access card
was criticised by some sectors of the public and relevant interest groups as a step in the same direction of an Australia Card. However, the Howard Government
was unable to implement the scheme before their electoral defeat in 2007.
Identity document
An identity document is any document which may be used to verify aspects of a person's personal identity. If issued in the form of a small, mostly standard-sized card, it is usually called an identity card...
for Australian citizens and resident foreigners. The proposal was made in 1985, and abandoned in 1987.
The idea for the card was raised at the national Tax Summit in 1985 convened by the then Federal Labor
Australian Labor Party
The Australian Labor Party is an Australian political party. It has been the governing party of the Commonwealth of Australia since the 2007 federal election. Julia Gillard is the party's federal parliamentary leader and Prime Minister of Australia...
government led by Bob Hawke
Bob Hawke
Robert James Lee "Bob" Hawke AC GCL was the 23rd Prime Minister of Australia from March 1983 to December 1991 and therefore longest serving Australian Labor Party Prime Minister....
. The card was to amalgamate other government identification systems and act against tax avoidance
Tax avoidance
Tax avoidance is the legal utilization of the tax regime to one's own advantage, to reduce the amount of tax that is payable by means that are within the law. The term tax mitigation is a synonym for tax avoidance. Its original use was by tax advisors as an alternative to the pejorative term tax...
and health and welfare rort
Rort
Rort is a term used in Australia and New Zealand.It is commonly related to politics, or, more generally, a financial impropriety, particularly relating to a government programme...
s. The government introduced legislation in the parliament
Parliament of Australia
The Parliament of Australia, also known as the Commonwealth Parliament or Federal Parliament, is the legislative branch of the government of Australia. It is bicameral, largely modelled in the Westminster tradition, but with some influences from the United States Congress...
in 1986, but it did not have a majority in the Senate
Australian Senate
The Senate is the upper house of the bicameral Parliament of Australia, the lower house being the House of Representatives. Senators are popularly elected under a system of proportional representation. Senators are elected for a term that is usually six years; after a double dissolution, however,...
and was repeatedly blocked by the opposition and minor parties.
In response, Hawke asked the Governor-General
Governor-General of Australia
The Governor-General of the Commonwealth of Australia is the representative in Australia at federal/national level of the Australian monarch . He or she exercises the supreme executive power of the Commonwealth...
Sir Ninian Stephen
Ninian Stephen
Sir Ninian Martin Stephen, is a retired politician and judge, who served as the 20th Governor-General of Australia and as a Justice in the High Court of Australia.-Early life:...
for a double dissolution, which was granted in June 1987, followed by an election on 11 July. The government was returned, but still without a majority in the Senate. Nevertheless, the legislation was reintroduced, only to be blocked in the Senate once more. The constitutional criteria for a joint sitting of the Senate and the House of Representatives had now been met. Hawke started making plans for a joint sitting, at which the legislation would have been assured of passage due to the dominance of the Labor Party in the parliament overall. However, a retired public servant Ewart Smith noticed a flaw in the drafting of the legislation that nobody in either the government or the opposition had noticed. Even if the bill had been passed by the parliament, there was still no likelihood the Australia Card could be introduced, because certain regulations necessary for the functioning of the system required the concurrence of the Senate, which was hostile to the Card. It is not clear that this flaw was fatal to the scheme, but the government did at that point abandon the idea. It may well have been a convenient face-saving way out of the situation, because by that time very significant popular opposition had arisen from widely disparate groups, although the Australia Card had not figured particularly prominently in the election campaign.
Following the shelving of the Australia Card, the Federal Government introduced a new identification system known as a Tax File Number
Tax File Number
Tax File Number is an 8 or 9 digit number issued by the Australian Taxation Office to each taxpayer to identify that taxpayer's Australian tax dealings. When it was introduced in 1988, individuals received a 9 digit TFN and non-individuals were issued an 8 digit TFN. Now both are issued 9 digit...
. This unique number, in many ways analogous to the United States Social Security Number, was a means of identifying and cross-referencing benefits received and tax paid by individuals.
The Australia Card proposal was, and is still, the subject of strong views. The proposal was either an egregious intrusion into individuals' privacy, giving bureaucrats enormous power; or it was an efficient and evolutionary step for a technological age, combating fraud. And its defeat was either a triumph of citizens acting to protect their rights; or irrelevant in the end due to the expansion of other identification systems and data matching.
The Australia Card proposal resurfaces every so often. Most recently, figures within the Liberal Party of Australia
Liberal Party of Australia
The Liberal Party of Australia is an Australian political party.Founded a year after the 1943 federal election to replace the United Australia Party, the centre-right Liberal Party typically competes with the centre-left Australian Labor Party for political office...
- which opposed the card in the 1980s - have voiced support for a national identity card. The Australia Card, say some, would help the government to combat terrorism and address flaws in the immigration system.
Plans to expand the capabilities of the ubiquitous Medicare card
Medicare card (Australia)
An Australian Medicare Card is a green coloured plastic card which identifies the persons listed on it as eligible for rebates under the Australian Medicare system when they are treated privately by a doctor with a provider number...
were announced in 2005 by then Human Services Minister Joe Hockey
Joe Hockey
Joseph Benedict "Joe" Hockey , is an Australian politician and member of the Australian House of Representatives, representing the Division of North Sydney for the Liberal Party of Australia since 1996....
. The Health and social services access card
Health and social services access card (Australia)
The health and social services access card is a proposed Australian Government non-compulsory health and social services access card. John Howard, the then Australian Prime Minister announced its introduction on Wednesday 26 April 2006...
was criticised by some sectors of the public and relevant interest groups as a step in the same direction of an Australia Card. However, the Howard Government
Howard Government
The Howard Government refers to the federal Executive Government of Australia led by Prime Minister John Howard. It was made up of members of the Liberal–National Coalition, which won a majority of seats in the Australian House of Representatives at four successive elections. The Howard Government...
was unable to implement the scheme before their electoral defeat in 2007.
See also
- Tax File NumberTax File NumberTax File Number is an 8 or 9 digit number issued by the Australian Taxation Office to each taxpayer to identify that taxpayer's Australian tax dealings. When it was introduced in 1988, individuals received a 9 digit TFN and non-individuals were issued an 8 digit TFN. Now both are issued 9 digit...
– its uses are restricted and it has far lesser scope than the Australia Card would have had, despite increased interaction between welfare and tax matters.
- Medicare cardMedicare card (Australia)An Australian Medicare Card is a green coloured plastic card which identifies the persons listed on it as eligible for rebates under the Australian Medicare system when they are treated privately by a doctor with a provider number...
– issued to and used by almost all individuals, but just for health services and rebates, but can be used as identification in many government and private industries.
- Health and social services access cardHealth and social services access card (Australia)The health and social services access card is a proposed Australian Government non-compulsory health and social services access card. John Howard, the then Australian Prime Minister announced its introduction on Wednesday 26 April 2006...
External links
- Smartcard plan sparks privacy fears, Sydney Morning Herald, 21 April 2005
- Govt says no plans for Australia Card, Sydney Morning Herald, 15 October 2004