[LINK] Govt wants to ID voters

[Howard Lowndes]

On Fri, 2004-04-02 at 09:49, Daniel Rose wrote:
> http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1079275.htm
> 
> Australians will have to show photo identification before they can enrol to
> vote, under changes put forward by the Howard Government.
> 
> Assuming this isn't a fool's joke, it's a intersting play.
> 
> Passports and Drivers Licences cost money, even if you're eligible for one.
> 
> This would be a lovely way to slide in an Australia card again, but this
> time with RFID and biometrics and holograms and all that jazz.  You'd know
> who to fine for not voting, and anyone with fines or warrants outstanding
> could be picked up by the police as they left (or arrived).
> 
> You could link it universally to ATMs and Library cards and Fly Buys and
> everything! Surely a utopia of complete and accurate databases, until you
> lose your card.

The problem with the electoral roll is that it can be used for purposes
other than for elections.  There ia a company (in Qld, of course) called
Pacific Microsystems (I think) who have transcribed the entire paper
electoral rolls into a database that they sell.

I received a flyer from Readers Digest with my street address on it,
something I never normally use.

> 
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-- 
Howard.
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