The Morrison Government has today released an exposure draft of the Trusted Digital Identity Bill to support the expansion of Australia’s Digital Identity System, whilst enshrining safeguards to ensure trust and confidence that the system and personal information is safe and secure.
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, said the legislation, which once passed by Parliament, will establish permanent oversight and governance structures and enshrines in law important privacy and consumer protections.
‘Our nation has transformed the way we go about our daily lives, using the internet to do our shopping to banking to accessing government services, so the Morrison Government is acting to ensure there is a secure, safe and easy way for Australians to access these services,’ Mr Robert said.
‘A safe, thriving digital economy is the best way we can grow the Australian economy. A safe, thriving digital economy is not possible without digital identity – that is, a safe, secure and convenient way for Australians to prove their identity online.
‘The work achieved in this space, and the future opportunities that legislation will enable, are critical parts of the Morrison Government’s ambition for our nation to be a leading digital economy and society by 2030.’
Minister Robert said the release of this exposure draft is the next step in a multi-year journey of consultation to ensure the legislation is robust, fit-for-purpose, and meets public expectations.
‘The draft legislation I am releasing today will build on strong safeguards already in place, providing the authority for a consistent set of rules that will protect Australians and Australian businesses,’ Mr Robert said.
‘We have been actively engaging all interested parties throughout the consultation process and this commitment to co-design and ongoing conversation continues with the opportunity to comment on the proposed legislation.’
Submissions are open until 5:00 pm AEST on 27 October 2021 and the exposure draft is available at www.digitalidentity.gov.au
