Commonwealth, state, and territory digital ministers have approved comprehensive identity reforms aimed at enhancing the security of Australians’ digital identities and simplifying the restoration process.
Following a recent Data and Digital Ministers’ meeting, the group released the National Strategy for Identity Resilience [pdf].
The strategy outlines a commitment to improving the interoperability of government-issued digital IDs.
In the event of a data breach, the ministers agreed to establish consistent processes for revoking and reissuing ID credentials and to determine the party responsible for the costs associated with remediation.
The objective is to establish a nationally consistent approach to identity resilience, with all jurisdictions collaborating on shared objectives, standards, and practices.
The ministers have also endorsed an identity approach that prioritizes minimizing data collection and retention. The strategy aims to enable government agencies and businesses to verify identities while minimizing the amount of personal information collected.
To achieve this, the governments will update the National Identity Proofing guidelines, which serve as a reference for governments and the private sector to determine the required information for proof of identity.
The strategy outlines two key initiatives to be implemented within the next three to five years: enhancements to the credential protection register and the introduction of mobile phone trust scores.
