People

Dr Ian Oppermann named ACCC commissioner, with open banking expert Scott Farrell replacing him as Digital ID and CDR chair

- December 8, 2025 2 MIN READ

The federal government has appointed data scientist Dr Ian Oppermann as a commissioner of the Australian Consumer and Competition Commission (ACCC). Dr Oppermann, the keynote speaker at this year’s Startup Daily Best in Tech awards, was previously NSW Government’s inaugural Chief Data Scientist, a startup founder and CSIRO director and entrepreneur-in-residence, and a pioneer of… Read more »

digital ID
Cyber security

Australia’s digital ID plan doesn’t meet global privacy standards- here’s what the government need to do to fix that

- October 30, 2024 3 MIN READ

Australia’s new digital ID system promises to transform the way we live. All of our key documents, such as driver’s licences and Medicare cards, will be in a single digital wallet, making it easier for us to access a range of services. The federal government is still developing the system, with a pilot expected to… Read more »

Surveillance room
Cyber security

Why trust and protection from government snooping are central to its digital ID plans

- August 14, 2024 3 MIN READ

On Tuesday, Australia’s minister for government services, Bill Shorten, announced the federal government is developing a new digital identity and credential system. Known as the Trust Exchange (TEx), Shorten said the new system will be “world leading” and represents an “exciting step forward for Australia’s digital infrastructure”. But details about the system are scarce. Shorten… Read more »

Bill Shorten
Cyber security

A new digital ID system planned by the federal government will keep personal info in your phone’s myGov wallet

- August 13, 2024 2 MIN READ

The minister for government services, Bill Shorten, will unveil a new initiative that would allow people to have more control over the personal information they share. The scheme, called the Trust Exchange (TEx), would allow people to verify their identities and credentials based on official information already held by the federal government. The plan is… Read more »

digital ID
Politics

Budget 2024: Digital ID scores another $288 million towards $1 billion roll out

- May 14, 2024 3 MIN READ

A further $288 million will be provided to the government’s digital identity scheme in the federal budget, bringing its total funding to nearly $1 billion. Treasurer Jim Chalmers will also extend the instant asset write-off test for another year, allowing tech and other businesses to immediately deduct $20,000 from eligible assets. Chalmers will hand down… Read more »

ConnectID MD Andrew Black
Fintech

Fintech Australia Payments Plus launches a digital ID that protects you data from hackers

- October 17, 2023 2 MIN READ

While the federal government trundles along with the roll out of a national digital ID framework, Australian Payments Plus (AP+), the consortium fintech backed by BPAY, eftpos and NPP Australia, has developed its own solution to tackle verification, fraud and identity theft, ConnectID. ConnectID lets people verify their identity to third parties without having to repeatedly… Read more »

Advanced facial recognition technology identifies the face of woman in bustling crowd, utilizing the power of big data analysis scanning for enhanced authentication through face. generative ai
Politics

An expert on the pros and cons of plans for a national digital ID

- September 26, 2023 4 MIN READ

In 2018-19, identity crime directly and indirectly cost Australia an estimated A$3.1 billion. To address such costs, the federal government is proposing a national digital identity scheme that will let people prove their identity without having to share documents such as their passport, drivers licence or Medicare card. Finance Minister Katy Gallagher opened consultations for the… Read more »

Advanced facial recognition technology identifies the face of woman in bustling crowd, utilizing the power of big data analysis scanning for enhanced authentication through face. generative ai
Politics

The Australian government has revived facial recognition as part of a national ID plan

- September 14, 2023 3 MIN READ

The Australian government will continue to authorise a one-to-many facial recognition system connected to the national ID database but is limiting its use to helping identify “shielded persons” like undercover police and protected witnesses. Once referred to as ‘the Capability’, the Department of Home Affairs built a system for the public and private sector to verify people’s… Read more »

Tom Cruise Minority Report
Politics

The Australian government wants to expand its digital ID system. Here are several things in the plan you should be concerned about

- October 27, 2021 4 MIN READ

The federal government has been asking the public for feedback on proposed legislation to create a “trusted digital identity” system. The aim is for Australians to use it to prove their identity when accessing public services. I first found out about the draft Trusted Digital Identity Bill not through my research at the intersection of… Read more »