Govt to review how identity data is managed, secured

The federal government will spend the next two months reviewing how the identity information of Australian citizens is protected and managed.

Home Affairs minister Peter Dutton announced the review yesterday to look at ways to strengthen existing arrangements and stamp out identity fraud.

The review will be led by former Attorney-General’s Department secretary Roger Wilkins, with the support of David Lacey, founder and managing director national of not-for-profit identity support service IDCARE.

The focus of the review will be how identity documents and credentials that are “most commonly relied upon as evidence of a person’s identity” are issued, used and managed.

To do this it will consider key the enablers, obstacles and risks behind existing national arrangements, including legislative frameworks and practice and systems for the collection, use and sharing of identity information.

The identity arrangements of businesses, organisation or other legal entities will not be considered as part of the review.

Dutton said the protecting identity information was a key concern for the government given the increasing prevalence of identity crime in Australia.

"Each year, many Australians fall victim to identity crime, with an estimated cost of over $2 billion annually," Dutton said.

"The effective management and sharing of identity information is also critical to maintaining public trust in the delivery of government services.

"Citizens want to know that their privacy is maintained and the services being provided are tailored to their needs and easy to use."

The government recently made moves to prevent the creation of fraudulent identities on its soon-to-be piloted digital identity program Govpass by embedding proof-of-life detection software.

The review is expected to be handed down before the end of November and may form the basis for a future iteration of the national identity security strategy.