When John Howard says something like this ...
We haven't made a decision to have an ID card in this country, but it should properly be on the table ...
... we can take it that it's damn near a certainty.
Remember similar comments about our involvement in the original invasion of Iraq, the extra troop deployments at the beginning of this year, and the commitment of the SAS to Afghanistan. There are certainly others that I can't exactly recall.
Howard is a master of the 'haven't made a decision yet' ploy. A proven tactic for softening up the public.
GST.
The federal government are planning biometric markers for credit cards and driver's licences by late this year. Biometric passports are also compulsory as of October and you can guarantee there won't be any referendum to give the public a chance to say no to a national id card, this time.
With so little transparency and public and corporate[to a lesser degree]sector accountability this is a dangerous step for Australia, with no one to stand in the way except - fingers crossed, the backbench.
Where is the Australian democracy going?
If the government wants an ID card, they'll get it. Bob Hawk had a double dissolution election and still couldn't get it through. Howard has no such Senate impediment.
Whether it makes us any safer is a moot point.
It's the 'we' bit that spooks me - smacks of the royal form of self address.
Yes, sounds like a royal we to me.
Or do you think the 'we' refers to the Kirribilli pillow talk - an even scarier, though not improbable thought.
Sue, too much information!