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The Australian Government announced in the Budget Speech 2006 that it is introducing
a new access card for use in the administration and payment of a number of health
and social services benefits. The Government believes that the access card will
improve the delivery of these services to all eligible Australians and is planning
for its introduction to be phased in from 2008. It will cost $1 Billion to implement
the card to provide a new identification and payment mechanism for the $92 Billion
paid out each year in health and social services costs. The government estimates
it will save up to $3 Billion a year by amalgamating 17 existing cards and reducing
fraudulent claims.
In order to facilitate a process of community consultation about the issues
raised by the Government’s access card and to open up additional lines
of input to the Government’s final decision making, the Minister for Human
Services, the Hon Joe Hockey MP, has established the Access Card Consumer and
Privacy Taskforce. The Taskforce is chaired by Professor Allan Fels AO who has
produced the Access
Card Consumer and Privacy Taskforce Discussion Paper No. 1 for comment.
Within the e-health research group we have submitted responses to this initial
discussion paper (as follows) and continue with research into programmable
smart cards. Further details and press releases can be found at the Department
of Human Services web site.
Professor
Bill Caelli’s submission to the Access Card Taskforce
Professor
Peter Croll’s submission to the Access Card Taskforce
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