Access card legislation set for June

Legislation for the government's AU$1.09 billion health and social services Access Card will be introduced to parliament in June after a Senate Committee Inquiry's recent rebuke.

Human Services minister Senator Chris Ellison announced today he would meet with Access Card stakeholders before presenting revised legislation.

"The legislation will now be presented as one package, to be introduced in June. This will mean members of the public can see the full detail of the legislation," he said.

The Senate's Finance and Public Administration Committee advised in a report that the card, in its present form, would be used as an identity card, forcing the government to review its legislation.

Ellison will meet with the Federation of Ethnic Communities' Councils of Australia as well as consumer, health and privacy groups in the next 10 days.

-The purpose of the meetings is to hear first hand from groups who made submissions or attended the public hearing of the Senate inquiry, about their views, issues and concerns regarding the Access Card.

-This is not about revisiting the concept of the card. We remain committed to the project. This is part of the government's ongoing consultation and is crucial in ensuring the debate takes into account the views of the broader Australian community."