Natasha Stott Despoja (SA, Australian Democrats) Share this | Hansard source

My question is addressed to Senator Kemp, the Minister representing the Minister for Human Services. What is the government’s understanding of the reasons for the resignation of the head of the government’s smartcard technology task force, Mr James Kelaher? Are the minister and the government aware of his reported concerns, which apparently include plans to scrap an external expert advisory board, plans to keep the project within the Department of Human Services and plans to keep funding for the project within Centrelink and Medicare? Given these concerns, can the minister, on behalf of the Minister for Human Services, explain to the Senate the government’s plans for the introduction of an independent assessment of the privacy implications of the smartcard?