The government’s Identity Verification Service is back on the agenda, along with new regulations for digital wallets. The National Anti-Corruption Commission reports on its first 100 days. And the head of ASIO reminds us that “words matter”.
Here’s what I’ve noticed since the previous edition on 6 October, just a few nuggets among the deluge of stories about the Indigenous Voice to Parliament referendum and the Israel-Hamas war.
- Treasury has released exposure draft legislation to revise the Payment Systems (Regulation) Act 1998. The updates include expanding the definitions of “payment system” and “participant” to ensure the Reserve Bank of Australia has “the ability to regulate new and emerging payment systems, such as digital wallet providers and Buy Now Pay Later service providers”. Submissions close 1 November.
- You may prefer to read the Reuters story, Australia unveils draft law to regulate digital payment providers.
- “The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) has said nearly 90% of the NACC’s reports have not been reported in the media,” reports The Mandarin, reporting it in a report. “Of the 1,247 reports it has received, the commission excluded 710 on the basis of not involving a commonwealth public official nor raising a corruption issue.”
- Or you can watch commissioner Paul Brereton’s exciting video message.
- We have the Environment and Communications Legislation Committee report on the Interactive Gambling Amendment (Credit and Other Measures) Bill 2023 [Provisions]. Basically full steam ahead, with a recommendation for review in 12 months including a focus on keno-style games.
- The Digital Transformation Agency was warned that a face-matching law could spook digital ID ($). This is the Identity Verification Services Bill 2023 and such mentioned below.
- Commonwealth Bank leapfrogs delayed government digital identity launch with ConnectID.
- Australia’s information commissioner has denied her leadership ‘gaslighted’ the former Freedom of Information chief.
- Finally, while it isn’t particularly digital or cyber, it was unusual but I think welcome to see a clear statement from ASIO chief Mike Burgess about political protest in the wake of the Middle East “situation”. If only our political leaders could be so measured.
Please let me know if I’ve missed anything, or if there’s any specific items you’d like me to follow.
Parliament returns this coming Monday 16 October, so expect a lot next week. We already have the draft legislative program for the Senate and the House of Representatives.
I note that on Tuesday we’re going to see debate on the Identity Verification Services Bill 2023 and the Identity Verification Services (Consequential Amendments) Bill 2023 now that they’re back from committee review, although we haven’t seen their report yet. In case you’re not familiar with the jargon, the first bill is the main new thing, and Consequential Amendments are the changes that will have to be made to various existing laws to make everything fit together.
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[Photo: The head of the National Anti-Corruption Commission, commissioner Paul Brereton.]