There’s a big change coming to the Australian passport that will save you time: here’s what you need to know
- Digital ID ends centuries of ‘wet ink signatures’
- Move saves millions of dollars and man hours
Australians will soon be able to renew their passports online due to major changes in how official documents are handled.
The government is finalizing steps to enable digital legal statements and deeds in all states to streamline passport renewals and voter registration.
It means an end to visits to the post office with bundles of paperwork personally signed by justices of the peace for those who want a new passport.
Instead, they can simply confirm their identity through the Australian tax authorities’ MyGovID app.
The system will also enable the use of digital e-signatures to co-sign electronic documents once incorporated into the MyGov website and app.
Australians will soon be able to renew their passports online due to major changes in how official documents are handled
It means an end to visits to the post office with bundles of paperwork personally signed by justices of the peace for those who want a new passport
The new digital statistics and deeds will also be usable by small businesses and are expected to save $400 million a year while accelerating the system.
A deregulation task force set up by the federal government says the move will dramatically expand the MyGov portal, which currently offers just 15 services, the agency reports. AFR.
They recommended adding passport renewal and voter registration as a priority to MyGov, but it requires a unified system approved by all states.
When the Covid pandemic broke out, some of the age-old practice of ‘wet ink’ signature confirmations were started online, and some of the changes were later made permanent.
The coalition government has pledged $150 million in 2020-21 to expand it with a four-year plan to cut bureaucracy, which has been continued by the current Labor government.
But inconsistent legislation between states has slowed its adoption, despite support from all states and the Law Council to harmonize laws across the country.
Now, the Attorney General’s Department is believed to be finalizing legislation to allow this to happen in the spring, with online passport renewals and voter registration expected within a year.
More than 3.8 million legal returns are filed in Australia each year, costing businesses $35 each and individuals $17, according to research from Accenture.
The 4.5 million deeds created each year cost businesses and individuals an additional $15 each time, all of which can be saved by going online, along with up to 9 million hours spent printing, completing, signing and physically witness documents.