The Australian Government's controversial Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007 is to be redrafted in the light of recommendations by a parliamentary committee.

Clauses 20(2), 210 and 215 of the earlier version of the Bill were no doubt inserted in order to placate many civil libertarians. Nevertheless, it seems likely that such provisions, if enacted, would result in Australia getting the worst of all possible worlds.

The taxpayers collectively would incur the cost of setting up and running the new system, but they would not get full value for the money.

Despite the rhetoric, in practice it would be virtually compulsory for all citizens to produce the access card for identification purposes even if in theory they were not required to do so.

The prohibitions contained in the above sections would do nothing to eliminate the difficulties people without driver's licences currently have in dealing with private sector organisations - for example, when opening bank accounts or when buying alcohol.

Worse still, the penal nature of clauses 210 and especially 215 is quite obnoxious. It could have the effect of turning into convicted criminals persons such as young shop assistants who are just trying in good faith to perform the job for which they have been engaged.