I think you can be fined in NSW for not showing your license to a police man while driving.
I always do instantly.
It is an ego thing, has to be, I have two official birth certificates, lost one then found it.
Think about this, my super mob, copy on hand refused one of my originals, as it was too valuable to send in the mail.
Don't like it, do not trust Polly's in this area, is arjay here?
I think it may be a plot, to get us so upset we except the Aussie card.

Talisman,

You were sort of right but you should be referring to the State Act under which the drivers licence was issued. see here,

"Do I have to provide my Drivers Licence as ID? Are businesses allowed to record this information?

There is increasing demand for individuals to provide proof of identity in shops, clubs, associations and other private businesses and government agencies. NSW law (specifically, section 175(1) of the NSW Road Transport (General) Act 2005) states that an organisation can only ask you for your drivers licence if it is authorised by law (eg. the police). However, it also states that under certain circumstances an organisation can request to see a drivers licence.

Section 175 of the Act states that an organisation can request the production of a driver’s licence to verify your identity or age in the following situation:

* in connection with the supply of any goods or services, or
* in connection with the conferring of any right, title or benefit, or
* in other circumstances.

where it is reasonable for the person making the request to require evidence of the other person's identity or age.

Many organisations are covered by either state or federal privacy laws, which place limits on what personal information can be collected from you, and how your personal information can subsequently be used.

If the organisation does record your driver’s licence information, these privacy laws give you the right to access and correct your personal information held by government agencies or businesses. Find out more about different privacy laws in NSW."

http://www.lawlink.nsw.gov.au/lawlink/privacynsw/ll_pnsw.nsf/pages/PNSW_04_faqid

contd from previous post..

Seniors would remember a time where almost anything was accepted as proof of identity and a Driver's Licence or Passport were the aces.

There is no plot to get people to accept the Australia Card and any party pushing it would have a death wish. However it would be very handy in deterring some of the fraud perpetuated against government. Citizens are rightly worried about the collection and misuse of information, which has occurred and will occur in the future. Ultimately it will come down to balancing risks.

Interestingly many people are unconcerned (which is incredible) about the data they are giving up daily on line and which is forever stored, while corporations wonder how to turn a buck from it.

Thanks for the clarification, Cornflower.
You're undoubtedly correct, but I think there's
a distinction between organisations being
"allowed to request" the production of a
driver's licence and the legal requirement
to produce one when demanded by a Police or
RTA Officer.

There's probably not much distinction in practice,
however, if the licence holder wants to access
goods, services or licensed premises. I think Belly
is also correct that it is compulsory to carry your
driver's licence while in control of a vehicle on
public roads. In my State you can be fined if you don't.

Also, I think I was wrong about the points value of
a driver's licence in a 100-point check. Passports and
original birth certificates are typically worth 70 points,
while a driver's licence is worth 40. So if you have
both a passport or original birth certificate and your
driver's licence, you clear the 100-point threshold.

They tell you not to smile on your drivers license picture these days to aid computer face recognition, even though they are supposedly not allowed to use this license picture for other purposes.

I was asked by a night club to scan my license which they would keep on file as a condition of entry. (They give you a bar-coded piece of paper that allows you entry next time. So I bid my friends goodbye and went home.

I think it's pretty dangerous for ex-crim bouncers to possibly have access to a database of women's photos and their addresses. There is no regulation of checks at all on the clubs that hold this information. They should be prevented from collecting this information.

Thanks Houellebecq,

You raise a very good example. I don't go to
nightclubs, but the potential ramifications of
allowing people of dubious character to digitally
scan your driver's licence are quite horrendous.
I wasn't aware that this practice exists.

Had I been in your shoes, I would have made
the same decision. ID theft is big business
these days, which is of course why regulations
are getting tighter and tighter.