National Identity database could threaten privacy

National Identity database could threaten privacy standards

Locking up 'clients' indefinitely is the problem cabinet should consider Greens Senator Kerry Nettle today said the recommendations from the Palmer report were unlikely to prevent future human tragedies being played out in detention centres whilst the policy of indefinite mandatory detention remained in place. She also raised concerns that a national database threatened privacy protections.

"The cabinet should be considering a return to the more humane asylum seeker processing that ran successfully in Australia for decades if they truly want to address community concerns about asylum seekers," Senator Nettle said.

"National Identity databases are not going to prevent the vast majority of tragedies that the current system generates because these tragedies are not about identity they are about indefinite detention.

"The proposals also threaten the privacy of all Australian's. The linking of various government databases will erode the foundations on which privacy protection in Australia is built. Privacy should not be traded off for an illusory promise of addressing immigration bungles.

"Mick Palmer was not asked to question the policy of mandatory detention, and as a result this core policy is not affected by his recommendations.

"The problems besetting the department of immigration are largely politically driven policy problems which will not be fixed by administrative tinkering.

"The Greens urge the government to recognise the need to scrap the mandatory detention policy and return Australia to a more human and compassionate approach to dealing with asylum seekers."

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