Page 1959 - Week 07 - Wednesday, 15 June 1994
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I have agreed that the transport regulation area of my department will be responsible for the issue of the card, and arrangements are currently being made to have the card available at the earliest possible date. Procedures are being developed by officers of my department in consultation with the Attorney-General's Department. Without pre-empting those consultations, I can advise the Assembly that the card will be available before the end of this year.
To ensure that the card will be fully effective, we will require the same proof of identity and proof of residence as is required from a person applying for the issue of an ACT drivers licence. These include primary proof of identity, such as a current passport or photographic licence from another Australian jurisdiction; and secondary proof, such as a current photographic identity card from an Australian government organisation, and a recent bank statement or other document sent to the residential address of the applicant. The card will be available at low cost, in a format similar to a drivers licence. Mr Deputy Speaker, the Attorney-General, in the Government response to the ACT Community Safety Committee status report on its Civic By Night reference, has announced the Government's support for such an identity card for ACT residents. I can assure the Assembly that arrangements are being made for the card to be delivered at the earliest possible opportunity.
I will use this occasion, Mr Deputy Speaker, to outline what constitutes primary and secondary proof of identity. I gave some examples a moment ago. This is the normal range of proof that would be acceptable. A full birth certificate or extract; a naturalisation or citizenship certificate; a current passport; a current Australian photographic licence; an Australian photographic drivers licence, for ACT vehicle registration only; and immigration papers - for example, a refugee's visa not more than seven years old. Secondary proof consists of a current passbook or card from a bank, building society or credit union; a current photographic identity card, such as a government pass, or an employee pass, or a Department of Defence pass, et cetera; a current Medicare or electoral enrolment card; a current Social Security or other pension card; a tax assessment notice, a telephone account, an electricity bill, or a rates notice paid within the last three months; and certificates issued by a recognised educational authority or a transcript of an educational record.
Mr Deputy Speaker, I believe that this process will allow for the intent outlined in the Civic By Night report and also the procedures that have been supported by Mr Moore, in particular, in trying to address this issue of proof of age. I would, however, like to place on record the simple fact that we do not regard it as an under-age card or a pubcard; it is a proof of identity card. A proof of identity card should be available to all sections of the community and should not end up transferring from the licensee the responsibility to ensure that under-age drinkers are not drinking in an establishment. The youth forum in the ACT was concerned about this. It must be borne in mind that it is the primary responsibility of a licensee to ensure that persons under age are not consuming alcohol on their premises. I give an undertaking that my officers, who review a number of these matters, will be keeping a close eye on this situation in the ACT.
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