Nexus - 0204 - New Times Magazine-pages

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COUNTDOWN TO BIG BROTHER THE NEW | \ ) | I | Cc | NX Cc V V In September, 1985, the Hawke Labor Government announced plans to introduce what it called "The Australia Card". The legis- lation, was tabled for the first time on 22nd October 1986. The Australia Card was to be a plastic identity card. Everyone was to become a card carrying citizen. The card’s features included: * Magnetic stripe swipe card, like those used for Automatic Teller Machines (ATMs). The legislation also contained provisions for the card to become "smart" - ie: to eventually incorporate a computer ship inside the plastic, which would hold information ertaining to the "card subject". * All card holders were to have their photograph on the card - the "photograph" was actually a video scan or digitalised photo- graph, one that can be kept on computer records. * The data base for the Australia Card, run ostensibly by the Health Insurance Commission (HIC), was to be interlinked with the departments of Social Security (DSS), Taxation, Immigration, Health (Medicare) and various other departments. *The card was to be produced as a means of identification for various government business and as proof of identity when open- ing bank accounts and dealing with non-bank financial institutions (credit unions, building societies etc). * Once issued, the card (and number) were to be used by "the card subject" for life, with renewal of cards determined by the Australia Card Authority. S YS T E Mi 9) * The Australia Card number was described as a "unique identi- fier". 1 * Failure to produce the card in certain cases would result in economic disadvantages. * The Australia Card proposal was initiated by the HIC, which was to be the manager of the National Identity Numbering System SUSAN BRYCE INS) * The Australia Card was to replace the Medicare cards, which were originally introduced to crack down on medifraud, but had | NVESTI GATES mostly expired by 1986. * The card was to be used in connection with dealings involving 7 q central marketing boards; obtaining employment; cash transac- One of the greatest dangers of all is that you tions above a certain unspecified amount, dealings in gold, silver have lost all sense of danger, you cannot even or precious stones; transfer or acquisition of shares, debentures or see where it's coming from as it moves swift - other securities; trust accounts and real estate transactions * A specimen signature was to be recorded electronically on the ly towards you. You imagine you see danger [ian in other parts of th globe and hurl the arrows Despite the governments threat of holding an historic joint sit- A ting of Parliament to force the Australia Card through, Susan Lo yes depleted quiver there. But the Ryan, the then Minister responsible for the proposed card, greatest danger of all is that you have lost the announced on the 8th October 1987 that the ID card wouldn't be will to defend yourselves." proceeding due to overwhelming public opinion. ecucca aie OA CoetcNeioms EFTPOS AS A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM civilisation" BBC address, March 1st 1976. Regardless of these happenings, and the so-called "death" of the HIC proposal, plans to introduce an Identity Card, albeit disguised MEDICARE CARD PART SECRET IDENTITY SYSTEM? NEXUS - 12 HISTORY - THE AUSTRALIA CARD SUSAN BRYCE INVESTIGATES EFTPOS AS A SURVEILLANCE SYSTEM YEAR BOOK - JULY/AUGUST 1991