Vic & WA Governments join identity theft protection scheme

[Jeffrey Walton <noloader () gmail com>]

http://www.itwire.com/it-policy-news/regulation/48385-vic-a-wa-governments-join-identity-theft-protection-scheme

Victoria and Western Australia have signed on to the Document
Verification Service (DVS), designed to protect Australians against
identity theft.

The scheme allows authorised government agencies to cross-check
identity documents with each other. Announcing the Victorian and WA
Government's participation in the scheme, attorney general Robert
McClelland, said: "The Document Verification Service significantly
improves protection of people's identity by allowing documents
commonly used as proof of identity to be quickly checked
electronically by the issuing agency.

"For example, if you are using your Australian Passport as proof of
identity to apply for a copy of a NSW driver license, the NSW Roads
and Traffic Authority will now be able to instantly verify the
authenticity of the passport with the Australian Passport Office. This
ensures that documents haven't been cancelled or personal information
falsified."

He added: "Importantly, no DVS information is retained on any central
database. Its purpose is to allow authorities to verify the
authenticity of documents issued by other agencies."

While praiseworthy, WA & Victorian Government participation in the
scheme has hardly been expeditious: the scheme was put in place in
2006.

....
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