The Digital ID system and scheme in Australia is set to receive an additional $145.5 million in funding from the federal government over the next four years. This comes on top of the already spent $600 million. The largest portion of the funding, $67 million, will go towards the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) to regulate Digital ID starting in mid-2024. The Attorney-General’s Department will receive an additional $56 million for the continued operation of Identity Matching Services, used for verifying identity against government-held credentials. Another $3.3 million will be used to enhance the credential protection register and protect victims of identity crime. The remaining funding will support ICT updates to myGovID, awareness activities for Digital ID, and the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner and Department of the Treasury. Alongside this funding, digital identity legislation has been introduced in the Senate. The government aims for Digital ID to be a secure, convenient, voluntary, and inclusive way for Australians to verify their identity online. The proposed legislation will expand the use of Digital ID beyond the federal government and allow its use by states, territories, and the private sector. The legislation will establish a legislated accreditation scheme for public and private sector Digital ID providers, ensuring only trustworthy and reliable entities can provide these services. The proposed legislation is currently being considered by the senate economics legislation committee, with a report due on February 28, 2022.
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