[LINK] Card to 'save billions'

[rchirgwin at ozemail.com.au]

No, Bernard, they're the same billions that the GST was going to take 
out of the black economy...

Bernard Robertson-Dunn wrote:

><brd>
>Are these the same billions the government was going to save with outsourcing?
></brd>
>
>Card to 'save billions'
>James Riley and Selina Mitchell
>MARCH 30, 2006
>The Australian
>
>SMARTCARD technology being touted by the Howard Government will save taxpayers
>billions of dollars by cutting welfare fraud and reducing administrative costs,
>Treasurer Peter Costello said.
>
>Improved authentication technology made possible by allowed by smartcards would
>make it easier for Australians to interact with government departments and
>agencies.
>  
>
In what way?

>Mr Costello moved to allay privacy concerns related to the government's
>proposed e-Services card, saying advances in security technology meant
>cardholders could be confident that their personal information would be
>protected.
>
>"Internet banking is an area that is secure, 
>
...phishing...

>military intelligence and
>communications are secure," 
>
...invalid comparison: the last time I looked, military intelligence and 
communications used private networks...

The rest of the article is just spin ... the difference between "data 
matching" and "agencies operating in a collaborative manner instead of 
in isolation from each other", for example, is merely a superficial 
change in the language.

RC

>Mr Costello said. "If you are prepared to invest
>enough, in the expertise, you can make these things secure against hackers."
>
>Human Services Minister Joe Hockey is expected to brief Cabinet on the
>eGovernment smartcard that will be issued to all Australians who access social
>services - including Medicare.
>
>The eServices card would be issued to all Australians who accessed social
>services - including Medicare - and is expected to be rolled out to more than
>17 million Australians over the next five years.
>
>Speaking on Melbourne radio Mr Costello said the new card would save "billions"
>of dollars.
>
>"I'm not at a stage where I can give you solid reliable figures, but by cutting
>down on welfare fraud, (taxpayers would save) lots of money," he said.
>
>Mr Costello said although the eServices card would act as an identity and
>authentication document for people when accessing government departments, it
>was not intended to be an Australia Card-style national ID.
>
>Approval for the smartcard project coincided with the launch in Canberra of the
>Australian Information Management Office's eGovernment strategy.
>
>The plan, announced by Special Minister of State Gary Nairn, would reduce
>pressure government shopfront offices by encouraging people to access services
>online.
>
>Carrying the title Responsive Government: A New Service Agenda, the blueprint
>is closely is closely linked to the Mr Hockey's whole-of-government
>authentication scheme, with a heavy emphasis on improving the Commonwealth's
>online authentication infrastructure.
>
>Mr Nairn said 2006-10 strategy built on the gathering momentum of electronic
>service delivery in government, but aimed to include transactions of greater
>complexity.
>
>He said the new strategy would cut down on red tape, with agencies and
>departments operating in a collaborative, connected manner, rather than in
>isolation from each other.
>
>--
>"Experience is that marvelous thing that enables you to recognize a mistake
>when you make it again."
>--F.P Jones
> 
>Regards
>brd
>
>Bernard Robertson-Dunn
>Sydney Australia
>brd at iimetro.com.au
>
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>  
>