Australian Identity Card "a dumb idea"

Federal Government consideration of the merits of a national identity card continues but critics of the idea are highlighting weaknesses in the arguments so far. Anna Johnston the chair of the Australian Privacy Foundation in a paper posted on Australian Policy Online, puts forward six reasons why the costs far out-strip any possible benefits:

1. ID cards are of doubtful effectiveness in tackling identity fraud, crime and terrorism
2. ID cards would not prevent identification errors being made
3. The cost of a national ID system would be staggering and wasteful
4. There is widespread public opposition to ID cards
5. A national ID card is significantly different to what we have now
6. The ipact on the Australian way of life would be profound