Mark Dreyfus (Isaacs, Australian Labor Party, Cabinet Secretary) Share this | Hansard source

First, I would like to thank the honourable members for their contributions to the debate on the Statutory Declarations Amendment Bill 2023. Australians spend an estimated nine million hours executing an estimated 3.8 million statutory declarations each and every year. Historically, these documents have been strictly paper based, requiring ink, signatures and in-person witnessing for valid execution.

Not anymore. This bill will provide Australians with options to execute statutory declarations in one of three ways: through traditional paper based execution using ink signatures and in-person witnessing; electronically, by allowing electronic signatures and witnessing via audiovisual communication links; or digitally verified through the use of a prescribed online platform that verifies the identity of the declarant through a prescribed digital identity service provider. The three methods of execution will be equally robust and result in an equally valid and legally effective Commonwealth statutory declaration. The bill also contains a range of safeguard provisions aimed at ensuring the transparency and accountability of the digital services being used to execute statutory declarations online.

This bill is a productivity win for individuals, businesses and government service delivery. It is estimated there will be over $156 million per annum in time and cost savings across the economy as a result of these reforms. In addition to the cost savings expected from the reform through providing more accessible ways of making statutory declarations, the bill will benefit those who face barriers engaging with paper based processes, such as those in rural, remote or regional parts of Australia.

In conclusion, this bill will respond to how Australians want and expect to engage and communicate digitally with government by providing options to make Commonwealth statutory declarations facilitated by technology. This bill will provide the framework for standalone digital statutory declaration and execution that will enable the government to leverage established Australian government digital infrastructure. This will allow Australians to safely and securely make a statutory declaration end-to-end online. In doing so, this bill response to the expectations of Australians when engaging with government service delivery. This bill is an important milestone in driving the digitisation of government services. It will deliver a world-class, simple and secure public service for all Australians.

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