- Banned
- #1
Privacy concerns force Smartcard head to quit
Smartcard chief quits over rush concerns
The head of the taskforce charged with implementing the government's plan for a smartcard has quit over concerns the project is being rushed.
The government last month announced plans to introduce a single card armed with a computer chip to replace 17 health and welfare cards.
The card is scheduled for introduction from 2008 at a cost of $1 billion.
Funding for the roll-out of the card is expected to be one of the big ticket items in the budget.
The head of the taskforce charged with mapping out a path to implement the plan, James Kelaher, has resigned from the job and from the public service.
Mr Kelaher has told ABC Television he was worried the government was rushing the project and his advice on privacy and security measures was being ignored.
"I felt so strongly about it, I was prepared to withdraw from the project," he said.
"Our early steps with this project should be measured and considered."
Mr Kelaher is reportedly unhappy the government rejected a proposal for an independent advisory board on privacy and security issues.
"Disabled people, people in rural and remote areas, doctors and pharmacists, hospitals, banks, all of these people wanted to make sure that their interests are being listened to," he told ABC.
Prime Minister John Howard would not comment on Mr Kelaher's resignation but defended the government's smartcard plans.
"I don't intend to comment on the decision taken by an individual public servant," he said.
Human Services Minister Joe Hockey told ABC Television Mr Kelaher was unable to commit to the term of the project, a claim Mr Kelaher denied.
"He was unable to commit for the next four years to the project, he could only commit for a few months," Mr Hockey said.
Mr Howard said fears about people's privacy with the introduction of the card were outdated.
"It's received very wide support and I am very confident that there will be appropriate safeguards balanced against the evident advantages in protecting the revenue and ease of transactions that the card will bring," Mr Howard said.
"I think this will be a real winner with the wider community and many of the fears that people have expressed are somewhat dated and misunderstand the character of what we have in mind."
Mr Howard said younger people in particular would be grateful for a single card that replaced the large number currently needed to deal with government bodies.
Labor is concerned about cost blowouts and that people's privacy and security could be compromised because of the large amount of personal information to be carried in the cards.
"Mr Kelaher's resignation only serves to make the public increasingly uneasy," opposition human services spokesman Kelvin Thomson said.
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Hmmm a few concerns already
$1billion dollars to implement..how much to maintain? Will they SAVE $1 billion dollars?
No independent body?
Smartcard chief quits over rush concerns
The head of the taskforce charged with implementing the government's plan for a smartcard has quit over concerns the project is being rushed.
The government last month announced plans to introduce a single card armed with a computer chip to replace 17 health and welfare cards.
The card is scheduled for introduction from 2008 at a cost of $1 billion.
Funding for the roll-out of the card is expected to be one of the big ticket items in the budget.
The head of the taskforce charged with mapping out a path to implement the plan, James Kelaher, has resigned from the job and from the public service.
Mr Kelaher has told ABC Television he was worried the government was rushing the project and his advice on privacy and security measures was being ignored.
"I felt so strongly about it, I was prepared to withdraw from the project," he said.
"Our early steps with this project should be measured and considered."
Mr Kelaher is reportedly unhappy the government rejected a proposal for an independent advisory board on privacy and security issues.
"Disabled people, people in rural and remote areas, doctors and pharmacists, hospitals, banks, all of these people wanted to make sure that their interests are being listened to," he told ABC.
Prime Minister John Howard would not comment on Mr Kelaher's resignation but defended the government's smartcard plans.
"I don't intend to comment on the decision taken by an individual public servant," he said.
Human Services Minister Joe Hockey told ABC Television Mr Kelaher was unable to commit to the term of the project, a claim Mr Kelaher denied.
"He was unable to commit for the next four years to the project, he could only commit for a few months," Mr Hockey said.
Mr Howard said fears about people's privacy with the introduction of the card were outdated.
"It's received very wide support and I am very confident that there will be appropriate safeguards balanced against the evident advantages in protecting the revenue and ease of transactions that the card will bring," Mr Howard said.
"I think this will be a real winner with the wider community and many of the fears that people have expressed are somewhat dated and misunderstand the character of what we have in mind."
Mr Howard said younger people in particular would be grateful for a single card that replaced the large number currently needed to deal with government bodies.
Labor is concerned about cost blowouts and that people's privacy and security could be compromised because of the large amount of personal information to be carried in the cards.
"Mr Kelaher's resignation only serves to make the public increasingly uneasy," opposition human services spokesman Kelvin Thomson said.
-------------------------------
Hmmm a few concerns already
$1billion dollars to implement..how much to maintain? Will they SAVE $1 billion dollars?
No independent body?
