Palmer opposes I.D. cards

Press, 22 September 1987, Page 1

Palmer opposes I.D. cards

By BRENDON BURNS, political reporter A national identity card, as suggested by the Prime Minister, Mr Lange, is opposed by his deputy, Mr Palmer. Opposition has also been expressed by civil liberties groups, the unemployed, and National Party members of Parliament, including Mr Graeme Lee (Coromandel), who said the card was a communisty ploy. He will organise a petition against the scheme if it is introduced.

Mr Lange chose an Australian television programme to suggest that New Zealand would consider a card similar to that which the Hawke Government is attempting to introduce to cut tax and welfare abuse. Mr Palmer told Parliament in June last year that such a card had been considered and rejected by the Government He has also expressed concern about privacy and civil liberties being infringed by a national identity card.

CHRISCHURCH

Speaking yesterday from Canberra Mr Palmer told “The Press” he was still instinctively opposed. “That was my attitude then. I haven’t re-examined it since,” he said.

However, Mr Palmer was at pains th narrow any gap created by Mr Lange’s comments. ■ “I have examined what the Prime Minister said carefully. He never said it was a probability.” > Mr Palmer said he had no doubt the card scheme would be examined from tithe to time, bdt it was not being considered at the moment, nor was -this planned. ' A former chairman of the Council for’Civil Liberties, Mr Tim Mcßride, had said he was astounded ■ that Mr’, Lange would embarrass his deputy when only last September the card scheme'was rejected. ' But Mr Palmer disagrees.

“I don’t think what Mr Lange said has embarrassed me in any way. I find that comment very

Mr Palmer advanced one strong argument against the need for a national identity card in New Zealand. One of the reasons the Hawke Government was promoting its introduction was to control tax dodgers. “In New Zealand, the GST system points those people out,” Mr Palmer said. The new tax had improved tax collection markedly, and had picked up a large number of evaderi

Australia’s introduction of the card had a long way to go yet, with hot debate continuing. It was to be accompanied by privacy legislation, giving people the ability to complain about their civil rights’ being infringed. While the debate continued in Australia; New Zealand was able to .sit on the sidelines and watch, said Mr Palmer. Mr Lange also appeared to' back off yesterday from his , own advocacy. “I said I thought we would examine it. There is no timetable for discussion,” Mr

Lange said. s'..-'," He repeated his earlier concern about people getting, welfare payments without identification — and the potential for abuse. He said he could see no civil liberties problem in requiring identification in such situations.

The Unemployed and Beneficiaries Movement said the Prime Minister was badmouthing the victims of his Government’s policies. It said the problem of welfare abuse was minor and would not exist if the Government put its energies into creating jobs and ensuring that' workers had liveable wages. , The National Party seized bn Mr Lange’s v cjrinments. Mr Graeme Lee (Coromandel) said a national security card 'was “nothing more than a well established , communist concept of people subjugation.”; With the card in place, it would only be a matter of time before the Government had total control rendering anybody without a card a “nonperson.” ;