The Digital Identity system being proposed by the government builds on the Trusted Digital Identity Framework (TDIF), ‘an accreditation framework for digital ID services’ developed by the Digital Transformation Agency (DTA). Work began on Digital Identity in 2014 under the Coalition Government, which foreshadowed a legislated Digital Identity system via the Trusted Digital Identity Bill, an exposure draft for which was released in October 2021.
Entities accredited under the TDIF that interface with government systems (page 16 of the agenda papers of an inter-departmental leadership group) are collectively known as the Australian Government Digital Identity System (AGDIS). This currently only includes government services, but the TDIF accreditation program has also accredited private entities in anticipation of expanding the digital identity system beyond government. The government has indicated that under its proposed system, phases 3 and 4 of the AGDIS expansion will extend to private sector services and providers.
