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Report to the Council of Australian Governments on the elements of the National Identity Security Strategy - April 2007

Identity security is a critical concern to Australian, State and Territory governments who have responsibility for Australia’s national security, revenue protection and law enforcement.  False identities underpin terrorist and criminal activity, undermine border and citizenship controls, and efforts to combat terrorist financing and financial crime.  Identity theft is also a major invasion of privacy and a serious concern to the Australian community.  It is essential to Australia’s security and economic interests that the identities of persons accessing government or commercial services, benefits, official documents and positions of trust, can be accurately verified.

Identity security is a whole-of-government cross-jurisdictional issue.  Developing and implementing the National Identity Security Strategy (the Strategy) will require a comprehensive and collaborative effort between and within jurisdictions.

Recognising these concerns, the National Identity Security Coordination Group (NISCG) has given significant consideration to responses which will achieve the elements of the Strategy.  The NISCG has mapped out six elements which will provide a framework for strengthening national arrangements at each point along the identity security continuum. 

Substantial work has been completed by the NISCG working groups on the six elements.  Jurisdictions recognise the value of the work done to date, and that this Strategy provides a guide for the development of jurisdictions’ own identity security frameworks.  It is noted that the NISCG working groups will continue to develop the work program in accordance with the Inter-Governmental Agreement (IGA) on the Strategy.

This report provides a snapshot of the work to date on the six elements of the Strategy.  It is intended as a guide for organisations who want to improve their current identity security arrangements and they are not mandatory.

This report complements the IGA that was tabled separately and signed at the Council of Australian Governments’ meeting of 13 April 2007.

The six current elements of the Strategy, outlined in this report, will form the basis for the continuing work of the NISCG.