Mallard's ID view 'no worry'

By RICHARD WOOD

The E-government unit of the State Services Commission says it is unconcerned that State Services Minister Trevor Mallard has pre-empted its report on how to implement online passwords for Government services.

Unit spokeswoman Andrea Gray said the minister was as entitled as anyone else to have a view on the topic.

The unit reports to the Government in June on an overall approach to online authentication.

Mallard said his preference was for a single system for all Government agencies.

He defended making his comments ahead of the report, saying they followed the deadline for the public consultation process.

Four options were initially presented to the public, ranging from having one password and identity database for access to services from all departments, through to each department having its own database.

Issues of privacy and security were also canvassed.

The unit has been careful not to back any particular approach.

Its public consultation survey closed last week with 76 responses.

The unit also ran focus sessions involving members of the public in various cities, and consulted interest groups including Maori, youth, the disabled, parents, academia and the Government.

Gray said submissions were still being analysed but the prevailing view was that the Government should implement a system as soon as practical.

Also, it was not an issue that Inland Revenue had expanded its online password system to the public, which could create a large identity database of taxpayers.

Gray said the IRD was part of the management committee on the passwords project.

"We are right across all those developments. We recognise that in the real world things don't happen in a linear fashion."