ID cards issue divide Australian Government

The Howard Government is divided over whether it wants to resurrect a national identity card, as it faces Opposition charges of using the issue to divert attention from immigration bungles.

Attorney-General Philip Ruddock refused to say whether he was for or against national identity cards, saying he would wait until the Cabinet made a decision on the issue.

Prime Minister John Howard put ID cards back on the agenda last week, after the London terrorist bombings and a damning report into immigration department bungles.

But Government backbenchers are divided on the plan, with Queensland Liberal MP Steven Ciobo calling it a dangerous idea.

Civil libertarians say an ID card would make it easier for computer hackers to steal people's identities, and Defence Minister Robert Hill says he would only support it if it was not too intrusive.