Health and social services access card (Australia)
Encyclopedia
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. Any Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident wishing to access services administered by the Department of Human Services
, Department of Veterans Affairs
or (from 2010) the universal Medicare
system would have needed to acquire one. The card was to be phased in over two years, beginning in 2008. The election of the Labor Party in November 2007 terminated the project.
One of the criticisms of the Access Card is that the need to use the card to access welfare and medical services makes the card, in effect, compulsory. It has been suggested that this is another attempt establish an Australia Card
. On the other hand, Department of Human Services
Secretary, Patricia Scott, told a Senate
committee on 16 February 2007 that the wrongful detention of Cornelia Rau
- who was held by immigration authorities for 10 months, despite being a legal resident- would not have occurred if the Access card was running.
head Prof Allan Fels
. A discussion paper raising privacy concerns was issued on 15 June 2006. The first report by the Taskforce was released in September 2006 and the Governments rejected or partly rejected four recommendations of the 26 made by the taskforce in November 2006.
The Bill to implement the first stage of this scheme is the Human Services (enhanced service delivery) Bill 2007. The Bill was offered as an exposure draft on 13 December 2006 for a four week period during which submission would be take. Some minor improvements resulted. The Bill was tabled and a Senate Inquiry started on 8 February 2007. the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration was given the task. The Committee called for submissions and heard testimony, then wrote a report all in six weeks. The Report delivered on 15 March 2007 was scathing of the Bill in the form presented. demanding it be withdrawn and key provisions be re-thought. It also strongly recommended that the oversight and privacy provisions not await a later unseen Bill but be included in one package. The Minister, Senator Chris Ellison, has withdrawn the Bill to implement the Committees recommendations. A notable feature of the report was that the Majority Report was written by Liberal Senators Mason, Fifield and Watson, a striking case of Senatorial independence.
is also introducing a non-compulsory identity card: the British national identity card
. France has had a similar, but less sophisticated, card for many years: the French national identity card
. Other European and Asian nations have national identity cards.
to protect this information. At hearings in March 2007, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
and the Australian Federal Police
confirmed that all such information will be available to them without warrant. This was not put forward as part of the original case, and if anything was denied as possible outcome. The Australian Bankers Association has also called for limited access to the database to help prove identity of new customers.
, who had been heading the Access Card project, was appointed Workplace Relations minister. Former Environment minister Ian Campbell took over the Access Card program to implement the card in an election year. On 3 March, Ian Campbell
tendered his resignation which was accepted. The new Minister is Senator Chris Ellison formerly the Justice Minister. The project's chief technology officer is Marie Johnson.
The Office of Access Card has issued a systems integrator request for tender (RFT) closing on 1 March 2007, with the contract expected to be signed between May and June 2007 .
rather than a simple magnetic strip. This means that instead of the card containing a number that relates to a record in a database
, the data (usually encrypted) are actually stored on the card.
The Card is intended to have a photograph, the usual name of the holder - it does not have to be the legal name - the signature, the expiry date and the ID Number will all be visible on the front or rear of the Card. The chip is expected to include your legal name, address, date of birth, details of children or other dependants, digitised photo, signature, card number, expiry date, gender, concession status and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Additional personal information can also be added at the will of the card holder. Such information may include next of kin, organ donor status or drug allergies and also, according to Joe Hockey
the former responsible government minister, shopping lists and perhaps MP3
s. Extra personal information will be secured with your pin, so only those who need it have access to it.
The card will have two card software platforms:
, the Office of the Access Card and all associated entities. The Labor Party had initially supported the Access Card in principle, but with caveats over its implementation. However, in October the half way house policy was abandoned and a complete repudiation was decided upon.
John Howard
John Winston Howard AC, SSI, was the 25th Prime Minister of Australia, from 11 March 1996 to 3 December 2007. He was the second-longest serving Australian Prime Minister after Sir Robert Menzies....
, the then Australian Prime Minister announced its introduction on Wednesday 26 April 2006. Any Australian Citizen or Permanent Resident wishing to access services administered by the Department of Human Services
Department of Human Services (Australia)
The Department of Human Services is an Australian Government agency which is responsible for delivering a range of welfare, social services, health services and other services for the Australian Government....
, Department of Veterans Affairs
Department of Veterans' Affairs (Australia)
The Department of Veterans' Affairs is an Australian Government department. Within its portfolio is:*Australian War Memorial*Military Rehabilitation & Compensation Commission*Office of Australian War Graves*Repatriation Commission...
or (from 2010) the universal Medicare
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...
system would have needed to acquire one. The card was to be phased in over two years, beginning in 2008. The election of the Labor Party in November 2007 terminated the project.
Purpose
Services to be accessed with the HSSAC include:- Welfare benefits, as administered by CentrelinkCentrelinkCentrelink is the trading name of the Commonwealth Service Delivery Agency , a statutory authority responsible for delivering human services on behalf of agencies of the Commonwealth Government of Australia. The majority of Centrelink's services are the disbursement of social security payments...
. This includes:- unemployment,
- disability,
- veterans and
- study allowances.
- The Health Care CardHealth Care Card\Eligibility for the card is determined by the eligibility for various federal government welfare payments . The payment/s are clearly shown on the card...
and Seniors Health Card - MedicareMedicare (Australia)Medicare is Australia's publicly funded universal health care system, operated by the government authority Medicare Australia. Medicare is intended to provide affordable treatment by doctors and in public hospitals for all resident citizens and permanent residents except for those on Norfolk Island...
subsidised health care, both bulk-billing and claim back. - The Pharmaceutical Benefits SchemePharmaceutical Benefits SchemeThe Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme or PBS is a program of the Australian Government that provides subsidised prescription drugs to residents of Australia. The PBS ensures that all Australians have affordable and reliable access to a wide range of necessary medicines.-History:The PBS was established...
(PBS), which provides subsidised medications. - Child Support Agency AustraliaChild Support Agency AustraliaThe Child Support Agency is an Australian Government organisation which was established in 1988 to administer the assessment and collection of child support under the Australian Government's Child Support Scheme.-Overview:...
services - CRS Australia vocational rehabilitation
One of the criticisms of the Access Card is that the need to use the card to access welfare and medical services makes the card, in effect, compulsory. It has been suggested that this is another attempt establish an Australia Card
Australia Card
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....
. On the other hand, Department of Human Services
Department of Human Services (Australia)
The Department of Human Services is an Australian Government agency which is responsible for delivering a range of welfare, social services, health services and other services for the Australian Government....
Secretary, Patricia Scott, told a 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,...
committee on 16 February 2007 that the wrongful detention of Cornelia Rau
Cornelia Rau
Cornelia Rau is a German citizen and Australian permanent resident who was unlawfully detained for a period of ten months in 2004 and 2005 as part of the Australian Government's mandatory detention program.- Overview :...
- who was held by immigration authorities for 10 months, despite being a legal resident- would not have occurred if the Access card was running.
Privacy
The Government established a Consumer and Privacy Taskforce under former competition commissionAustralian Competition and Consumer Commission
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission is an independent authority of the Australia government. It was established in 1995 with the amalgamation of the Australian Trade Practices Commission and the Prices Surveillance Authority to administer the Trade Practices Act 1974...
head Prof Allan Fels
Allan Fels
Professor Allan Fels is an Australian economist, lawyer and public servant. He was most widely known in his role as chairman of the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission from its inception in 1995 until 30 June 2003...
. A discussion paper raising privacy concerns was issued on 15 June 2006. The first report by the Taskforce was released in September 2006 and the Governments rejected or partly rejected four recommendations of the 26 made by the taskforce in November 2006.
The Bill to implement the first stage of this scheme is the Human Services (enhanced service delivery) Bill 2007. The Bill was offered as an exposure draft on 13 December 2006 for a four week period during which submission would be take. Some minor improvements resulted. The Bill was tabled and a Senate Inquiry started on 8 February 2007. the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Public Administration was given the task. The Committee called for submissions and heard testimony, then wrote a report all in six weeks. The Report delivered on 15 March 2007 was scathing of the Bill in the form presented. demanding it be withdrawn and key provisions be re-thought. It also strongly recommended that the oversight and privacy provisions not await a later unseen Bill but be included in one package. The Minister, Senator Chris Ellison, has withdrawn the Bill to implement the Committees recommendations. A notable feature of the report was that the Majority Report was written by Liberal Senators Mason, Fifield and Watson, a striking case of Senatorial independence.
Similar programs in other countries
The United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
is also introducing a non-compulsory identity card: the British national identity card
British national identity card
The Identity Cards Act 2006 was an Act of the Parliament of the United Kingdom. It provided for National Identity Cards, a personal identification document and European Union travel document, linked to a database known as the National Identity Register .The introduction of the scheme was much...
. France has had a similar, but less sophisticated, card for many years: the French national identity card
French national identity card
The national identity card of France is an official non-compulsory identity document consisting of a laminated plastic card bearing a photograph, name and address....
. Other European and Asian nations have national identity cards.
Function creep and unintended outcomes
The Card is the physical manifestation of the National Identity Register, this will have the 17 classes of information outlined in the Act. The supporters of the present Bill point to prohibitions within the Bill and the invoking of the Commonwealth Privacy Act 1988Privacy Act 1988
The Privacy Act 1988 is an Australian law dealing with the privacySection 14 of the Act stipulates a number of privacy rights known as the Information Privacy Principles. These principles apply to Australian Government and Australian Capital Territory agencies or private sector organisations...
to protect this information. At hearings in March 2007, the Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
Australian Security Intelligence Organisation
The Australian Security Intelligence Organisation is Australia's national security service, which is responsible for the protection of the country and its citizens from espionage, sabotage, acts of foreign interference, politically-motivated violence, attacks on the Australian defence system, and...
and the Australian Federal Police
Australian Federal Police
The Australian Federal Police is the federal police agency of the Commonwealth of Australia. Although the AFP was created by the amalgamation in 1979 of three Commonwealth law enforcement agencies, it traces its history from Commonwealth law enforcement agencies dating back to the federation of...
confirmed that all such information will be available to them without warrant. This was not put forward as part of the original case, and if anything was denied as possible outcome. The Australian Bankers Association has also called for limited access to the database to help prove identity of new customers.
Implementation
On 22 January 2007, Joe HockeyJoe 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....
, who had been heading the Access Card project, was appointed Workplace Relations minister. Former Environment minister Ian Campbell took over the Access Card program to implement the card in an election year. On 3 March, Ian Campbell
Ian Campbell (Australian politician)
Ian Gordon Campbell , Australian politician, was a Liberal member of the Australian Senate representing Western Australia between 1990 and 2007.-Early life:...
tendered his resignation which was accepted. The new Minister is Senator Chris Ellison formerly the Justice Minister. The project's chief technology officer is Marie Johnson.
The Office of Access Card has issued a systems integrator request for tender (RFT) closing on 1 March 2007, with the contract expected to be signed between May and June 2007 .
Card description
The Access Card is a Smartcard. Smartcard technology differs from ordinary magnetic strip cards in that the card contains a microchipIntegrated circuit
An integrated circuit or monolithic integrated circuit is an electronic circuit manufactured by the patterned diffusion of trace elements into the surface of a thin substrate of semiconductor material...
rather than a simple magnetic strip. This means that instead of the card containing a number that relates to a record in a database
Database
A database is an organized collection of data for one or more purposes, usually in digital form. The data are typically organized to model relevant aspects of reality , in a way that supports processes requiring this information...
, the data (usually encrypted) are actually stored on the card.
The Card is intended to have a photograph, the usual name of the holder - it does not have to be the legal name - the signature, the expiry date and the ID Number will all be visible on the front or rear of the Card. The chip is expected to include your legal name, address, date of birth, details of children or other dependants, digitised photo, signature, card number, expiry date, gender, concession status and your Personal Identification Number (PIN). Additional personal information can also be added at the will of the card holder. Such information may include next of kin, organ donor status or drug allergies and also, according to 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 former responsible government minister, shopping lists and perhaps MP3
MP3
MPEG-1 or MPEG-2 Audio Layer III, more commonly referred to as MP3, is a patented digital audio encoding format using a form of lossy data compression...
s. Extra personal information will be secured with your pin, so only those who need it have access to it.
The card will have two card software platforms:
- The card management system (CMS) will manage and track access cards throughout their seven-year lifecycle.
- The key management system (KMS) will provide security protections for card data.
Registration
Registration will require an interview that is planned to average 12 minutes. At the Interview a bio-metric photo will be taken along with full documentation to prove you are the person you claim to be (birth certificates, credit cards, bills etc. - similar to the 100 point financial services test) will need to be shown and copied for permanent storage. This will occur at special offices in the initial two year registration period, after that at selected Post Offices at every seven year renewal.Closing of Project
In November 2007 the incoming Labor Government announced it was terminating the Access Card project, the Office of the Access Card and all associated entities. The Labor Party had initially supported the Access Card in principle, but with caveats over its implementation. However, in October the half way house policy was abandoned and a complete repudiation was decided upon.
External links
- The official government website for the Access Card
- Consumer and Privacy Privacy Task Force - Office of the Access card
- Privacy Foundation - anti Access Card Campaign site
- Electronic Frontiers Australia - Privacy page
- Cyber Law Centre (UNSW)
- Access Card No Way site - Melbourne based site campaigning against the Card
- Getting smart: the Access Card - transcript of Background Briefing program on ABC Radio NationalRadio NationalABC Radio National is an Australia-wide non-commercial radio network run by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation.Radio National broadcasts national programming in areas that include news and current affairs, the arts, social issues, science, drama and comedy...
broadcast on 10 December 2006. - ID Card - Is Big Brother Stalking You? - MP3 recording and reference list from Diffusion science radio program on 2SER2SER2SER is a community radio station in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, broadcasting on the frequency 107.3 FM and is a member of the Community Broadcasting Association of Australia. The station operates as a company limited by guarantee and is jointly owned by Macquarie University and the...
broadcast on 1 March 2007.