The Australian government is advancing its digital identity systems with the implementation of passkeys across multiple services, marking a significant shift in how citizens access government platforms and services. The expansion builds on Australia’s existing myGovID system, which has been gradually rolling out digital identity capabilities since 2019.
As part of this transition, participants and nominees in the National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) were required to update their myGov account settings by October 20, 2024, to incorporate stronger sign-in options, including SMS codes, passkeys, or Digital ID for accessing NDIS portals and applications. The change follows Services Australia’s broader initiative to consolidate and secure government digital services.
In March 2025, VicRoads joined other major organizations, including Telstra and UBank, in adopting passkeys as an alternative authentication method. VicRoads has implemented biometric passkeys for myVicRoads accounts, with over 200,000 passkeys created during their pilot program. The implementation follows Victoria’s earlier initiatives in digital identity, including the introduction of mobile driver’s licenses.
“Customers are quickly realizing the benefits of passkeys,” says Andrew Shikiar, CEO and Executive Director of the FIDO Alliance, reflecting the growing acceptance of this authentication method. The FIDO Alliance has been instrumental in developing and promoting passwordless authentication standards across the digital ecosystem.
The technology has seen substantial adoption, with more than 50 percent of users on current smartphones, tablets, and computers now having access to passkey functionality. The authentication method employs public key cryptography to prevent interception or redirection of authentication attempts, particularly when used in conjunction with biometric systems such as Touch ID on Apple MacBooks or Windows Hello facial recognition on PCs.
The implementation is part of a broader initiative to enhance cybersecurity and protect personal data from fraud across Australian government services. The effort supports Australia’s national digital identity framework and global trends toward passwordless authentication methods that offer improved security against phishing attacks while maintaining user convenience.
Sources: BCA.org.au, Biometric Update
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