Electronic statutory declarations spell end of the passport queue

It also paves the way for online “life event” services, bringing together all the services someone needs when they turn 18, or apply for a job for the first time.

A rapid uplift in federal services available on the myGov app, which currently has 15 services, is expected. Denmark’s equivalent service portal is considered world leading and has more 2000 services.

The bill also locks in pandemic exemptions that enabled electronic signatures and video witnesses for Commonwealth statutory declarations. These are needed for a variety of non-government matters, such as court documents or contesting traffic infringements.

The long-awaited bill is being considered by the Senate’s legal and constitutional affairs legislation committee. Much of the foundational work for the reform was undertaken by the previous government.

The bill is expected to get quick passage, after the Coalition signalled support Tuesday, but with digital spokesperson Paul Fletcher declaring the government’s digital transformation agenda being “somewhere between anaemic and non-existent.”

The bill retains the current paper-based system, but enables two other options for Commonwealth statutory declarations: either electronically or through an accredited digital platform.

The reforms only apply to Commonwealth statutory declarations, but the Attorney-General’s Department has established a working group of Commonwealth, state and territory officials to develop a co-ordinated national approach to executing statutory declarations and deeds.

More than 3.8 million statutory declarations are completed in Australia each year by small and medium enterprises and consumers, according to Accenture modelling. This adds about 9 million hours to printing, filling out, signing and physically witnessing their execution.

“Digital statutory declarations could save over $156 million each year, hundreds of thousands of hours and be a productivity winner for the private sector,” Attorney-General Mark Dreyfus said.

He told parliament the bill would authorise the government to prescribe myGov as an approved online platform and myGovID as an approved identity service able to verify a declarant’s identity.

Once new digital identity legislation is passed, other state and private providers will be able to be brought on, enabling services such as loan applications, conveyancing, wills and other services to be able to be completed online.

Several states, including NSW and Victoria, have identity-proving regimes. Australia Post, Mastercard and a consortium of banks, retailers and payment firms have also teamed up to exploit digital identity.

However, Mr Dreyfus signalled the government would take a cautious approach to expanding the digital option to private digital platforms.

“Noting that digitally verified statutory declarations are a first of their kind, the government would carefully consider the appropriateness of prescribing other providers,” he said.

“Copies of statutory declarations and personal information associated with the declaration will not be stored on the approved online platform or any other database.”

He said approved platforms would only keep the minimum de-identified data required to verify execution in accordance with the requirements in the bill.

“Australians will be able to be confident that the digital option is robust and reliable, and that their personal information is secure and protected,” Mr Dreyfus said.