The Australian Privacy Foundation has led a successful campaign in eliminating proposed legislation for a National ID.  While the Australian government had tried numerous times to convince people that the card was a “Human Services Access Card,” one only need to read the legislation to see that it was, indeed, a National ID card.

Encrypted information contained within the card’s RFID chip would have included a person’s legal name, date of birth, gender, address, signature, card number, card expiration date, and Medicare number. Provisions were also included that would allow additional information deemed to be necessary for either “the administration or purposes of the Act.”

Much like the American REAL-ID, the Australian card would be “adjustable” and further information that the government randomly decides is necessary could be added to the card at any time.  Fortunately, the new government in Australia has scrapped the idea.  It’s too bad that REAL-ID isn’t going the same route.