Just as the Senate inquiry on the access card’s enabling legislation gets under way, Senator Campbell said young people would have the same access to Government health services under the new smartcard as they do under the current Medicare system.

The new health and welfare access card will combine 17 different government identity cards – including the Medicare card and Centrelink healthcare card – onto a single smartcard.

Social service advocacy groups had been concerned that the card would leave under 18s who had special needs without access to government health services.

“I want to ensure that it is clearly understood that the introduction of the smartcard does not change anyone’s eligibility to receive Australian Government health and social services,” Senator Campbell said.

“This includes anyone under the age of 18 who wants their own card, regardless of whether or not they have a card now,” he said.

“Currently young people who need to have a separate Medicare card can have one. For example a student at boarding school or a young person living with a grandparent will be able to get a card and will not have to ask for their parents’ permission.”

Senator Campbell said anyone over the age of 15 years will be issued with their own access card if they apply.

People under the age of 15 who are eligible for Medicare can also have their own card, either with their parents permission, or in special needs cases such as the person is homeless, a ward of the state or in foster care.

Meanwhile, Government has handed a 100 page submission to the Senate Inquiry on the ‘Human Services (Enhanced Service Delivery) Bill 2007’ – the enabling legislation that will bring the card to life.

The submission outlines in detail why the Government wants to introduce the card, how it will work and the penalties for misusing the card.