Under Section 74 of the Digital ID Act 2024, creating and using a digital ID is voluntary. Specifically, the Act prohibits participating relying parties (such as businesses, government departments, or service providers) from making the creation or use of a digital ID mandatory for accessing their services. Instead, these parties must provide an alternative means of accessing the service that does not require a digital ID, provided that alternative is reasonably accessible and does not result in significantly less favorable terms for the service.
For example an accountant (or any other service provider) cannot refuse to provide you with their service solely because you do not have a digital ID. The Act specifically stipulates that creating and using a digital ID is voluntary, and service providers (including accountants) who are participating relying parties must offer alternative means for accessing their services without requiring a digital ID.
What if I am refused service for not having a Digital I.D?
If an accountant (or any other service provider) refuses to provide service because you don’t have a digital ID, they could be in violation of Section 74(1), which mandates that they must offer a non-digital ID alternative. If the service provider insists on requiring a digital ID for service, you can report the service provider to the Digital ID Regulator who is the ACCC.
