26 September 2023

DTA shows way on digital identity laws

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The Digital Transformation Agency (DTA) has released a report on the feedback it received during consultation on Digital Identity legislation.

The DTA said the proposed laws would support an expanded Digital Identity system in Australia and would enhance existing privacy and consumer safeguards as the system expanded to include State, Territory, and private sector services.

“The response to this initial phase of consultation has been overwhelmingly positive,” DTA said, “with strong support for the expansion of Digital Identity, and for parts of the system to be enshrined in legislation.

“Digital Identity helps more Australians gain faster and more convenient access to a wider range of online services, with the assurance their personal information is safeguarded,” the Agency said.

“As Digital Identity expands, it will save time and money for people starting a new business or those who need access to Government payments and services.”

It said Digital Identity removed the need to produce important documents each time someone accessed a Government service

It said it had sought community views on proposed legislation that would support and strengthen an expanded Digital Identity system in Australia.

“This has included a Consultation Paper on the proposed legislation, which has resulted in 44 submissions from Australians and Australian businesses,” DTA said.

The agency said key themes which emerged through the consultation included governance of the system; liability framework; administration of charges for digital identity; scope of the legislation and interoperability with other systems; privacy and other safeguards; and consistency of laws.

It said the feedback would be used to draft legislation with a second-round of community consultation to be held this year.

DTA’s Digital Identity Legislation Synthesis Report can be accessed at this PS News link.

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