The Government announced today plans to develop a digital signature process able to be used by Australian businesses in dealing with the Commonwealth. These measures will help ensure that Commonwealth online services to small business and e-commerce opportunities are more easily available.
‘Business over the Internet can be between parties who may never meet face-to-face, and be great distances apart—a means of establishing identity is essential. This initiative is an important aspect of the Government’s commitment to getting all appropriate government services online by 2001,’ said the Acting Minister for Communications, Information Technology and the Arts, Mr Peter McGauran.
‘I expect a significant number of government online applications to be developed over the next year using this digital signature, which can identify and authenticate businesses’ transactions with Commonwealth agencies.’
The Minister for Employment, Workplace Relations and Small Business, Mr Peter Reith, said that the Government is committed to driving down compliance costs, particularly for small business.
‘This would be significantly assisted through the online delivery of government services to businesses. The use of this digital signature will mean that a business could provide its details or regulatory information online only once and this could be used by a range of Commonwealth and possibly State agencies, saving time and money,’ Mr Reith said.
The Assistant Treasurer, Senator Rod Kemp, explained that this initiative arises from the rollout to Australian businesses of the Australian Business Number (ABN) as part of implementing tax reform.
According to Mr McGauran an online digital signature which authenticates the identity of each business would be linked to the ABN.
‘Widespread use of this process would solve a major block to online service delivery by government, because it can help become a basis on which business can confidently ensure online identity,’ Mr McGauran said.
‘The Government has taken a number of specific decisions to reinforce this initiative, said Mr McGauran. ‘The Government will shortly be releasing specific details of the digital signature, and will be encouraging State Governments to take it up. All Commonwealth agencies will be expected to use the ABN when identifying businesses and, similarly, the ABN-based digital signature for authenticating online transactions with business. Certificates issued for one Commonwealth Government agency will be able to be used by others.’
The Government also announced plans to develop a single Government Supplier Register, to facilitate online government procurement.
Background information is available online at www.dcita.gov.au [see ‘e-commerce’ in the easyfind] or by phoning 02 6271 1230.
Contacts: Ian Hanke, Mr Reith’s Office, 03 9650 0177
Sasha Grebe, Senator Alston’s Office, 02 6277 7480
Richard Allsop, Senator Kemp’s Office, 03 9650 7274
6 January 2000