Rau case re-ignites ID card debate

The Advertiser: Rau case re-ignites ID card debate [07feb05]

Given Ms. Rau should have a Medicare card and probably a bank card : she obviously had nothing on her to identify her. Why would she then carry an ID card because the government wants us all to have one? She has been here since she was a baby. Even though she was speaking German, didn't people notice she had an Australian accent when she spoke in English. Migrants who speak other languages and who came here as children are finding it hard to believe she was detained. This would not make it easier to prevent such occurrences and why should we, the people of the nation, who said quite clearly we did not want an ID card , agree to having one when we are not the ones responsible for Ms Rau's detention? Medicare can trace the details. Most psychiatric patients have a care worker and are on lists if they are prone to severe mental distress. They were saying on the news this morning that all sorts of groups around the place had noticed Ms Rau wasn't very well and different people were trying to get help for her...but once detained, always detained. We know you want us all to have an ID card, but we do not want one. Using this case for government self interest is not right.