The Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) has partnered with Services Australia to test a new identity verification system linked to the myGov platform. 

The initiative, part of the government’s Trust Exchange (TEx) program, aims to enhance the security and efficiency of identity-sharing between Australians and businesses.

Participants in the trial can use a digital Medicare card stored within the myGov app to verify their identity. 

At designated CBA branches in Canberra, individuals scan a QR code through the app, authorising the secure sharing of information such as their name and Medicare enrolment status. The system does not transmit sensitive details like the Medicare number itself.

Before officially retiring from politics this week, former Government Services Minister Bill Shorten said the program has the potential to bolster data security by limiting the need for businesses to retain physical copies of ID documents. 

“It may mean in future you wouldn’t need to hand over copies of your ID documents for banks to store on their own systems, reducing the data they need to collect,” he said. 

This approach could mitigate risks associated with data breaches, a growing concern for Australian businesses.

The trial is a continuation of the Trust Exchange framework, announced in August 2022. Unlike a conventional app or ID, TEx acts as a secure channel for individuals to verify their identity using government-verified data. 

A similar trial last year at a Brisbane GP clinic allowed patients to register by securely sharing test information from Medicare and other government-issued cards via the myGov app.

The trial outcomes will inform future expansions of the program. 

If successful, the CBA initiative could pave the way for broader applications, from streamlining patient registrations to simplifying customer onboarding across various industries.

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