Smartcard? O RLY.

I don't know if anyone has been following the access card drama lately, but from what I have read and heard, I can't say I feel all that comfortable with it. It aims to smoosh 17 cards (Centrelink, Veterans, Medicare etc etc) onto one card that will contain your photo, digital signature, unique access card number and a variety of other things. It is completely optional, in the sense that if you want to ever use Medicare or Centrelink, you have to get it.

My concern is, though, that they also want to keep scanned copies of your birth certificate together with all this lovely information in one central location. The argument advanced is pretty much one of convenience. However, it totally ignores the basic rules of information security: don't keep all your eggs in one basket. Why does the government need a scanned copy of my birth certificate? The state births registry has it already. Some law enforcement organisations have already expressed an interest in getting access to the registry too. I am a law-abiding citizen, but even so, I am distrustful of a government doing things because it makes it more convenient for them to keep tabs on me.

If you're interested in reading more, the Senate inquiry transcripts can be found here and make for interesting reading.

*dons tinfoil hat*