Major change coming to Australia’s passport that will save your time: Here is what you need to know
- Digital ID will end centuries of ‘wet ink signatures’
- Move will save millions of dollars and manhours
Australians will soon be able to renew their passport online in major changes to the way official documents are handled.
The government is finalising moves to allow digital statutory declarations and deeds in all states to streamline passport renewals and electoral roll registration.
It will mean an end to visits to the Post Office with bundles of paperwork signed in person by Justices of the Peace for those wanting a new passport.
Instead they will be able to simply confirm their identity though the Australian Tax Office’s MyGovID app.
The system will also allow the use of digital e-signatures to countersign electronic documents once it is incorporated into the MyGov website and app.
Australians will soon be able to renew their passport online in major changes to the way official documents are handled
It will mean an end to visits to the Post Office with bundles of paperwork signed in person by Justices of the Peace for those wanting a new passport
The new digital stat decs and deeds will also be able to be used by small businesses and is predicted to save $400million a year while speeding up the system.
A deregulation taskforce set up by the federal government says the move will dramatically expand the MyGov portal, which currently only offers 15 services, reports the AFR.
They recommended adding passport renewal and electoral roll registration to MyGov as a priority, but it requires a uniform system approved by all states.
Work started on moving some of the centuries-old practice of ‘wet ink’ signature confirmations online when the Covid pandemic broke out, with some of the changes later made permanent.
The Coalition government pledged $150million in 2020-21 to expand it with a four year plan to reduce red-tape which was continued by the current Labor government.
But inconsistent legislation between the states has delayed its introduction despite the support of all states and the Law Council to harmonise the laws nationwide.
Now the attorney-general’s department is believed to be finalising the legislation to make it happen by spring, with online passport renewals and electoral registration expected within a year.
More than 3.8million statutory declarations are made in Australia each year, costing businesses $35 every time and individuals $17, research by Accenture found.
The 4.5million deeds made each year cost business and individuals another $15 a time, which could all be saved by the move online, along with up to 9 million hours spent printing, filling out, signing and physically witnessing documents.
