"Digital ID legislation"

These Bills will provide individuals with secure, convenient, voluntary and inclusive ways to verify their identity for use in online transactions with government and businesses.

The Digital ID Bill 2024 will:  

• legislate and strengthen a voluntary Accreditation Scheme for digital ID service providers that wish to demonstrate compliance with best practice privacy, security, proofing and authentication standards
• legislate and enable expansion of the Australian Government Digital ID System for use by the Commonwealth, state and territory governments and eventually private sector organisations
• embed strong privacy and consumer safeguards, in addition to the Privacy Act to ensure users are protected
• strengthen governance arrangements for the Accreditation Scheme and the Australian Government Digital ID System, including by establishing the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission as the Digital ID Regulator, and expanding the role of the Information Commissioner to regulate privacy protections for digital IDs.  

The Bills are expected to receive Royal Assent in coming weeks with Act expected to commence by November 2024. 

From commencement, the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC) will be the Digital ID Regulator alongside the Office of the Australian Information Commissioner (OAIC), who will regulate the privacy aspects of Australia's Digital ID System. After no more than 2 years from commencement, accredited private businesses will be able to apply to join the Australian Government Digital ID System.