Release type: Media Release

Date:

Public consultation opened on Australia’s Digital Identity Legislation

Ministers:

The Hon Stuart Robert MP
Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business

The Morrison Government is asking Australians to share their views on the safeguards and protections that will underpin Australia’s Digital Identity system with the release of the Digital Identity Legislation Position Paper. 

Digital Identity is an option the Government is providing to make accessing government services online simpler, safer and more secure. It is a digital way to prove who you are when you want to access services online, similar to a 100 point identity check.

The purpose of the Digital Identity Legislation is to establish permanent oversight and governance structures for the system, as well as enshrine in law a range of privacy and consumer protections. It will also establish the national set of rules that will safeguard people and businesses using Digital Identity. The Digital Identity Legislation will include all the key requirements from the Morrison Government’s Trusted Digital Identity Framework to ensure privacy and consumer protections for Australians. 

Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert said that the Digital Identity system enables Australians to easily interact with government services online, in a secure and convenient way. 

‘Millions of people are already seeing the benefits that Digital Identity provides. Over 2.56 million Australians and over 1.27 million businesses use Digital Identity to access over 75 government services.’

‘Establishing the right safeguards and protections will lay the foundations for the Digital Identity program and grow the digital economy by improving digital infrastructure,’ Minister Robert said. 

‘We want a system that Australians can use and trust. The legislation will ensure the expansion of the Digital Identity system meets the expectations of all Australians and that users can have confidence in the integrity as the system expands,’ Minister Robert concluded.

The Digital Identity Legislation Position Paper has been published at www.digitalidentity.gov.au. 

Submissions are open until 5:00 pm on 14 July 2021.

Background 
The Australian Government injected over $256 million in the 2020-21 Budget as part of the Digital Business Plan to enable more secure and convenient engagement with government services, and in future, the private sector. 

The Government’s Digital Identity program is being led by the Digital Transformation Agency, supported by Services Australia, the ATO and other government agencies. People can currently use myGovID, the Australian Government’s identity provider to access over 75 government services and this number is growing with more services scheduled to onboard, providing users with more opportunities to use their myGovID.

The Digital Identity system has strong privacy and security safeguards to protect you and your personal information. If you suspect someone has inappropriately accessed your personal information in myGovID, you need to report this immediately by calling the ATO on 1300 287 539.

myGovID is highly secure. When using government online services with myGovID, your personal information won’t be shared without your permission - putting you, as the user, in total control.

Getting started with myGovID
Setting up your myGovID is easy and you only need to do it once!

  • Step 1: Download the myGovID app from the App Store or Google Play.
  • Step 2: Enter your details including your name, date of birth and email address.
  • Step 3: Prove who you are by verifying your identity documents, such as your Australian driver’s licence, passport or Medicare card. Your information is automatically checked against existing government records, for a speedy process.

For more information about the Australian Government’s Digital Identity system, visit digitalidentity.gov.au

For more information about how to get started with myGovID, visit mygovid.gov.au