Here’s an interesting one to slip out on a Sunday
the week before Parliament resumes: “Plans for a national identity card have
been hit by fears of cost blowouts, privacy dangers and technical problems,”
News Limited Sundaysreported yesterday. “Attorney-General Philip Ruddock will announce a
review of the proposal to consider the issues after a departmental inquiry is
completed…”

The reports quote estimates that put the cost of implementing the proposal at
$15 billion, or about $750 a person.

Has Ruddock been reading the London School of
Economics report on the British ID card proposals that warns the scheme will cost between 10bn and 19bn pounds over ten years?

There, in true New Labour enlightened despot style,
the idea is to run the card on a user pays basis – giving a whole new twist to
citizenship involving duties as well as rights.

Ruddock’s small-l liberal credentials have taken a
battering over the last half decade or so, but no doubt he recognises the idea
of forcing people to carry a piece of plastic – and billing them – is complete
tosh.