We are seeking your feedback on draft updates to guidance on using alternative identification procedures by 30 October 2024.

Why is this important

If a customer has difficulty providing standard identification, banks, superannuation funds and other reporting entities can use alternative identification options. Customers may have difficulty providing documents such as a driver’s licence or birth certificate for a range of reasons including emergencies, personal circumstances, their location or structural barriers. This can severely impact their ability to access essential financial services. 

Using alternative identification procedures helps ensure the Australian community can access the financial services that they need. These procedures ensure that people are not unduly excluded from the financial system due to barriers accessing standard identification documents. 

Customers that may be impacted include:

• Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples
• people living in remote communities
• people experiencing periods of homelessness
• intersex, trans and gender diverse people
• people affected by family and domestic violence
• people leaving an emergency or unsafe situation where gathering documents may not be an option.

This is not an exhaustive list. There may also be customers who face multiple barriers.

About the updated guidance

The guidance is being updated to support financial inclusion outcomes and address industry feedback. 

It’s important to note that using alternative identification procedures must always be a risk-based decision for your business, which factors in the individual circumstances and information available.

For a summary of the changes visit the consultation page.

How to submit your feedback

Read the draft guidance and learn more about the submission process. We welcome your feedback on the draft guidance by 30 October 2024. 

For further information, contact guidance_consultation@austrac.gov.au.