Minister for Employment, Workforce, Skills, Small and Family Business, Stuart Robert, today announced eftpos as the first private identity exchange to be accredited under the Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF) to facilitate online transactions requiring a digital identity for Australians.
eftpos’ connectID has been accredited under the TDIF to act as a ‘broker’ between identity providers-organisations that securely hold identity data on behalf of their customers-and merchants or other services that need to verify who they are dealing with or receive identity information that they can trust.
Minister Robert said expanding the Australian Government Digital Identity System is a key step towards Australia becoming a leading digital economy by 2030.
‘In recent years, our nation has transformed the way we go about our daily lives-and it all revolves around digital. From shopping to banking to accessing government services, Australia has turned to digital in droves,’ Mr Robert said.
‘With this comes great benefits-a thriving digital economy drives growth by enabling businesses to prosper, providing more job opportunities for Australians, and connecting us with emerging industries and technologies across the world. However, Australians and Australian businesses must have trust and confidence that the system and their personal information is safe and secure.
‘A safe, thriving digital economy is the best way we can grow the Australian economy. A safe, thriving digital economy is not possible without digital identity – that is, a safe, secure and convenient way for Australians to prove their identity online.
‘Through accreditation, we make sure Australians and Australian businesses can have trust and confidence that their personal information is safe and secure.
‘As an accredited provider, eftpos has demonstrated that connectID is trustworthy, safe and secure and has met strict usability and accessibility requirements. I congratulate eftpos for being the first private identity exchange to be accredited under the TDIF.’
The TDIF requires an organisation to meet the Government’s requirements for strict privacy protections, security and fraud control, risk management and technical integrity ensuring a nationally consistent approach to accrediting, governing, and operating digital identities in Australia.
eftpos’ connectID is not currently seeking to operate as part of the Australian Government Digital Identity System.
connectID offers access, through multiple digital identity providers including Australia Post and Yoti, to a potential network of hundreds of thousands of Australian businesses. eftpos will need to continually demonstrate they meet TDIF obligations by undergoing annual assessments.
‘Digital identity systems, like eftpos’ connectID, provide opportunities for businesses, big and small, to engage with Australians and support the growth of our economy,’ Minister Robert said.
The Morrison Government’s Digital Identity Program is being delivered as part of the $800 million Digital Business Plan and led by the Digital Transformation Agency.
The Australian Government is accrediting a number of businesses and government agencies under the TDIF as a part of its testing of the Australian Government Digital Identity System expanding to businesses and state and territory governments. This is an exciting next step in the roll out of the Digital Identity program.
The Morrison Government continues to prepare Digital Identity legislation, which once passed by Parliament, will establish permanent oversight and governance structures for the Australian Government’s Digital Identity System, and enshrine in law important privacy and consumer protections.
The legislation will build on strong safeguards already in place, providing the authority for a consistent set of rules that will protect Australians and Australian businesses. The work achieved in this space, and the future opportunities that legislation will enable, are critical parts of the Morrison Government’s ambition for our nation to be a leading digital economy and society by 2030.
The Exposure Draft of the Bill and supporting materials will be released shortly and is the next step in a multi-year journey of consultation to ensure the legislation is robust, fit-for-purpose, and meets public expectations.
